Priority berthing gets unanimous thumbs up

'More professional way of managing the port' Alan Peat ALTHOUGH THE Port of Durban is in the throes of congestion in the present pre-Christmas rush, the priority berthing system has met with only support from the container liner operators. Although there are other problems Ð bad weather, industrial action, lack of pilots (and a stand-down period for their helicopter), lack of landside handling equipment and the like Ð the new system is a winner. "The priority berthing system is working well, even allowing for weather and strikes," said one of the Cape Town-based shipping executives. "It's a more professional and efficient way of managing the port and the terminal." Another Ð Barry New, m.d. of P&O Nedlloyd Ð was also a happy man. "For those services where we have priority we're quite satisfied," he said, "and hope we can get some more priority slots."