Rigorous plans help address CTCT’s wind-related delays

Cape Town Container Terminal is confident that it can meet the performance standards agreed with the Transnet National Ports Authority despite the challenges it faces in the form of wind and fog. TNPA earlier this year announced that all terminal operating licences would in the future be linked to a performance agreement with operators who run the risk of losing the licence if they do not meet the targets set.But according to terminal manager Brenda Magqwaka, it’s not just about the licences. “Efficiency and service delivery are key as that is the only way we will attract more business and increase our volumes and throughput.” And while the weather is a major contributor to delays at the port, leading to vessel bunching and loss of productivity, she said that rigorous wind recovery plans were in place. “But there is not much one can do when the wind reaches 80km per hour. It is not safe to continue working in such heavy winds and that does lead to productivity dropping.” While straddle carriers are able to work in such weather and are only brought to a halt when the wind reaches 90km per hour, the entire terminal has gradually moved away from using straddle carriers to rubber tyre gantries (RTG) which means fewer straddle carriers are available in windy times. “The decision to move away from the straddle carriers and have more RTGs is to allow for more capacity in our stack. It was initially planned to extend the container quay by 300 metres over one kilometre but this was not feasible due to the environmental impact it would have,” she said. “Thus we have to utilise the existing space better and that means stacking containers higher – for which the RTGs are more effective.” Magqwaka said while high winds and fog did not mean the terminal came to a complete standstill – as work continued with the available straddle carriers – it did affect performance. According to Mgqwaka, when production has been affected the terminal is quick to implement double shifts and overtime for workers in an effort to get back on schedule. CAPTION The Port of Cape Town … ‘Efficiency and service delivery are key.’