Power of the press breaks MPT impasse

The power of the press has come to the fore in a battle between port users and the multi-purpose terminal (MPT) at the Port of Durban – and achieved success in setting a possible course towards settlement of the dispute. After months of attempts by the users to reach a conclusion over a number of contentious rules laid down by the MPT, the users were at the end of their tether, and finally turned to FTW for help. In their complaint, they condemned the MPT management – in the form of terminal manager, Saleem Peterson – as being “arrogant” and totally ignoring the users’ wishes. This because of unilateral rulings laid down by MPT which forbade private vehicles in the port and insisted on the use of a bus service; banned the taking of photographs without clearance; saw dunnage released by the ships for port users to use in their transport of cargoes being claimed by the MPT and issued grudgingly to users; and only allowed vehicles carrying loads necessary for movement of cargoes into the terminal under a booking system. “They must understand that their clients are not the vessels,” said Carl Webb. MD of Project Logistics Management, and spokesman for the MPT users, “but the companies that are contracted to move the cargoes out of the terminal within a strict 72-hour window. Obviously, anything that disrupts the smooth and efficient movement of the loads – like the arbitrary rules laid down by MPT – places us in danger of overrunning this time frame, and having everyone hit with all sorts of demurrage penalty charges. “But they just won’t listen to us.” All these points were published in successive issues of FTW, quoting a number of different port users who were experiencing problems with the rules. But, at the same time, all attempts to get Peterson’s reaction to the complaints against him hit a brick wall. However, the stories caused such a stir within the port authorities that FTW understands that Pretoria head office insisted that Zeph Ndlovu, divisional executive manager of Maydon Wharf (where the MPT is located), reach some form of settlement with the users. The latest news from Webb indicates that Ndlovu has recognised that the power of the press can be used to achieve a positive result, and he has confirmed that a three-way meeting between himself, Webb and FTW could be organised for this week. It is hoped that, following this get-together, FTW will be able to publish Ndlovu’s action plan to overcome the current problems at MPT.