Portnet and lines agree on way forward

THE TALKS between Portnet and the lines on port congestion issues have continued at a satisfactory pace, according to Dave Rennie, chairman of the Container Liner Operators' Forum (Clof). However, today (March 15) is D-day with the moratorium on the port congestion surcharge either standing or falling depending on whether a compromise settlement has been achieved. At the last main indaba - attended by the lines, the National Ports Authority (NPA), SA Port Operations (Sapo) and Spoornet - the focus was on productivity and capacity issues in the Port of Durban, Rennie told FTW. It highlighted the interventions that needed to occur immediately on capacity and productivity matters - and those that needed to be implemented leading up to the Durban 2005 port development. At the end of the March 1 get-together, a technical committee was formed with a two-week deadline to separate the immediately implementable interventions, and those which need further investigation, according to Rennie. But the tone of the meeting seemed to hit the right key, he added. "I think there was a sense that everyone understood the problems and the need for upgrading productivity, capacity and infrastructure was acceptable to all the parties," Rennie said. "There was common understanding, and a will to work towards these ends." The compensation issue was not on the agenda at this meeting, but is subject to separate negotiations between Sapo and the lines. However, today should decide whether all is well on the congestion front, and marks the deadline when the shipping community will know whether the port congestion surcharge stands or falls.