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.