Richards Bay heavy lift ‘ban’ raises industry concerns

Confusion continues to reign over a decision by Transnet Port Terminals to ban heavy lifts and project cargo from the port of Richards Bay. In a communiqué signed by Warren Vickers, commercial manager of TPT, industry was informed on May 12 that all project and heavy lift cargo should be delivered to Maydon Wharf at the Durban Port with immediate effect and that this cargo would only be accepted at the Richards Bay port on a case-by-case assessment basis. Freight forwarders expressed their concerns over the decision to FTW saying that the Durban Port would be unable to handle the big cargo. According to Carl Webb of Project Logistics Management (PLM), the decision seems to have been taken arbitrarily with no input from the private sector. “We have raised the issues with TPT and pointed out the increased risk but they are just not willing to engage on the matter,” he said. “It is impossible to move heavy project cargo through the Durban port as both weight and height are issues. The access roads to the port also make it impossible to move the project cargo out of there.” He said with the route only able to accommodate 120 tons of payload and 5.75 metres of loaded height there seemed to be no reasonable answer coming from TPT. “We were told to break up the cargo into smaller pieces. I am uncertain how we are going to do that with a 300-ton transformer, for example, or other big pieces. Richards Bay is far more able to handle the bulk cargo than break bulk cargo and should be the port of entry.” In a letter in FTW’s possession, Vickers says that during a recent visit by TPT management to the Port of Richards Bay they were “visibly horrified at the congestion on the quayside which was exacerbated by project cargo and heavy lift operations. We all know and have witnessed how chaotic it can be on the quayside with tractor trailer combinations, road delivery vehicles and heavy lift systems all competing for right of way in the narrow confines of the quay wall”. * After two weeks, FTW was unable to obtain official response from TPT to industry concerns. This will be published as soon as we receive it.