Port of CT addresses wind-related delays

Wind is becoming less of an issue at the Port of Cape Town as operators gain more experience with Rubber Tyred Gantry (RTG) crane operations, says Cape Town port engineer, Magenthran Ruthenavelu. Exporters have however questioned why operations at the port’s stacking yard come to a halt even in the “slightest” wind conditions. While the port’s quayside gantries can operate in winds of up to 85km per hour, the RTGs are brought to a halt a lot sooner. And when the stack is not operating, it directly impacts on ship loading and unloading resulting in these operations also having to be halted. Ruthenavelu said following the purchase of the 28 RTGs at the port, operations were initially stopped in winds of around 60km per hour. “We have since engaged with the manufacturer and the supplier of the equipment who has proved to us that the cranes can operate at wind speeds of up to 90km per hour,” he said. “We therefore know the equipment can handle the wind, but it is not that simple. Operators have had to get used to the equipment – and as training and experience has improved so has the cut-off time for operations which is now at winds of around 72km per hour.” Upgrades to the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) included the reconfiguration of the stack to increase capacity to one million TEUs. That included the purchase of the RTGs to replace the straddle carriers in an effort to densify the stack.