Richards Bay equipment complaints – more blah, blah

In what has now become part of the historic fibre of the Port of Richards Bay, the latest meeting of the Port Consultative Committee (PCC) has tasked a three-man sub-committee to once again (for the nth time) discuss complaints of cargo handling equipment being in a poor state. And, as is now the tradition with port users’ complaints about cargo handling equipment that is not up to standard and affecting productivity, the sub-committee that was to be formed to discuss port performance with Transnet Port Terminals (TPT), was suggested at a meeting last November – but was not formed until the latest PCC took up the issue. Also following the historic norm, members of the PCC emphasised that – before it can be put before the powersthat- be at Transnet for a budget allocation for new equipment – it will have to go through “the appropriate procedures”. Indeed, they added, before this issue could be raised at the national PCC, it would have to be “exhaustively addressed” by the local PCC. Moreover, other terminal operators (besides TPT) will have to be involved in the process. Members also raised the concern that multiple subcommittees are cumbersome and an open meeting with various roleplayers to address this issue will not yield any positive results. Also in traditional form, it was then suggested that a group of three people – one from Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and two port users – will consult with TPT and other operators and provide feedback at the next meeting. Any bets on the likely outcome?