Reefer exports suffer ‘domino’ delays

RAY SMUTS
DRAWING FROM one reefer export stack for exclusive use by the SA – Europe Container Service (SAECS) can be a tad problematic at times, if the past weekend is anything to go by. David Davids, planning officer for South African Port Operations (Sapo), explains that of the 2 000 reefer plug points at Cape Town container terminal, half are set aside for the exclusive use of SAECS vessels, which are only able to work one at a time. That is where the hiccup crept in when three SAECS vessels arrived in Table Bay shortly after one another. The Dal Kalahari arrived on time at 0900 last Friday but could not start loading because Safmarine Nokwanda was working the reefer stack, loading about 700 reefers, among other cargo. Safmarine The Safmarine vessel was in turn delayed 48 hours waiting for the MOL Cullinan to load 700 reefers from the reefer export stack. (MOL Cullinan’s delays totalled about 45 hours). Davids said Dal Kalahari was due to start loading 1 150 containers, including reefers, 900 on Wednesday morning and sail the same day, (a 70 hour delay) No further delays were anticipated for the remainder of the week.