Port users unconvinced by productivity claims

Port users have described as “just all smoke and mirrors” assertions by senior port management that the Port of Durban has increased its efficiency by 3%. And they believe that the productivity shortfall at the port is not due to the efficiency of the equipment, but rather management and labour related. At a recent conference, Karl Socikwa, CEO of Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), told delegates that the seven new ship-to-shore (STS) tandem lift cranes were now able to lift four 20 foot (6 metre) containers at the same time – with six at a time on the cards soon. Now there is no doubt that the seven new STS cranes are capable of increasing the loading/discharge speed considerably. But, from FTW’s own observation of the STS movement of boxes, the slowdown factor appears to be on the shore-side, where the box-carrying straddle carriers are seldom at the ship side to co-ordinate with the crane movement. And we would presume that, with four – and even worse – with six boxes per crane lift, the shore-side delay factor would be even greater. Glenn Delve, marketing director of shipping line MSC – by far Durban’s main user – confirmed this assumption. He reckoned that, on discharge, the crane-straddle synchronisation “isn’t too bad” “But on loading there is a delay because they’ve got to bring the boxes from the stacks. And, with four-box or six-box lifts, it’s more than likely that this delay will lengthen.” However, Transnet CEO Brian Molefe made the point that the aim was now definitely on crane density (more cranes to each vessel) to improve turnaround time, rather than the number of movements per crane. That is what the industry wants - “Safer and faster,” he added, also noting that TPT had set up a working committee to ensure “optimum utilisation” of the cranes. But Carl Webb, MD of Project Logistics Management, and the SA Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) in-port abnormal loads representative, believes they’ve missed the point. “Ocean side operations may increase in efficiency by 3%. But the overall effect on efficiency will be negative, as this will just create a bigger bottleneck on the landside operations. INSERT & CAPTION The machines aren’t the problem, it’s the management and operators who need to build up a sweat now and then. – Carl Webb CAPTION The seven new STS cranes are capable of increasing the loading/discharge speed considerably … but the slow-down factor appears to be on the shore-side.