Y2K frenzy blamed for cargo influx
BUNCHING OF ships in the Port of Durban is likely to continue well into December and shipping lines are being offered the incentive of diverting some ships to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
To facilitate this Portnet has arranged an equalisation of railage rates between Cape Town and Gauteng compared with those from Durban to Gauteng for the period November 26 until December 20. This is similar to an arrangement already in force at the port of Port Elizabeth and Portnet says it is hopeful that these measures will alleviate congestion pressures at the Durban Container Terminal.
According to Portnet operations manager Peter Masemola the sudden influx of ships with containers for loading or discharging at Durban has increased drastically in recent weeks. He said this might be a reaction to year-end Y2K worries.
"It seems people are getting their stocks in and out ahead of time. Some feel there might be problems with the suppliers and others don't want to get into trouble with their customers.
We're not yet in a crisis situation but there are some delays being experienced," he said.
Masemola said it was taking up to 14 hours for container ships to turn around due to the increased influx of goods coming in and leaving the port.
However, other port users said the delays were up to 36 hours on occasion.
On one day last week no less than fifteen container trains were queuing up at Kings Rest marshalling yards waiting to discharge export containers from Gauteng. At the same time there was a reported 16 000 TEUs lying stacked in the terminal.
Twenty-nine container ships called at the port last week to load and discharge cargo but bunching resulted in no less than 15 arriving in just two days, Sunday and Monday. This is the kind of pressure with which the terminal is finding difficulty coping.
Spokesmen for several shipping lines confirmed that although the terminal was extremely busy containers were being cleared, albeit with sporadic delays. However they all expressed concern about any further build-up which they said could lead to a general slow down of operations. There was a general consensus that the Cosmos computer logistic system was working well.
And according to Masemola this is something that has helped Portnet to cope with more containers than usual because of better stack efficiencies.
Last month the port experienced its highest ever container turnover and indications are that November will be even higher. If ships are diverted to Cape Town and Port Elizabeth December's turnover will however be reduced.
By Terry Hutson
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
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