Portnet sets November start for Corebis

Alan Peat
THE NEW terminal handling charge (THC) system, Corebis, is likely to start its roll-out from the Port Elizabeth test-phase from November.
Originally expected much earlier this year, the roll-out was delayed as Portnet tried to adapt certain parts of the software to meet local market conditions, and to sort out problems the off-the-shelf programme caused for the shipping lines.
Following a meeting last week between the lines and Portnet, Dave Rennie, c.e.o. of Unicorn Lines and chairman of the Container Liner Operators' Forum, told FTW: "It looks as though certain required adjustments to the programme have been made and the lines' problems have, therefore, been sorted out by Portnet."
Portnet authority division (PAD) is expected to publish the full roll-out programme shortly.
"Although exact dates were not confirmed, the meeting was told that Portnet hoped to start the roll-out to Cape Town before the end of November," said Rennie.
"Durban should be early next year, obviously avoiding the usual pre-Christmas rush at the port."
Although there has been some delay in installing the new system, this phased-in introduction seems to meet with the approval of the lines.
It's a lot better than the implementation of the Cosmos system, which appeared with an almighty bang in the main port of Durban in mid-1999 and threw the port operating function totally out of gear for some months until a host of teething problems were cleared up.
"The roll-out port-to-port allows the bugbears to be sorted out at each harbour before the next move," said Rennie. "We're comfortable with the way Corebis is being implemented."