Ro-ro operator wants fewer SA calls

Ports need more under-cover parking ED RICHARDSON THERE ARE too many ports serving the South African auto industry, according to Per J Eitzen, vice president South Africa of Wallenius Wilhelmsen Lines. He told delegates at a two-day Made in South Africa Automotive Conference last week that shipping lines needed proficient port services. “A roll-on, roll-off carrier is worth $50-million, and the cargo of up to six thousand cars can be worth the same again, so we can’t afford to have $80 million to $100 million worth of ship and cargo waiting. Time is money and we need fast turnaround.” Eitzen is also concerned about the number of stops required in South Africa. “In Europe we have rationalised our operations to three ports - Southampton in the UK, Zeebrugge in Holland and Bremerhaven in Germany. We even haul cars overland from Turkey to Zeebrugge for onward shipping.” The much smaller South African auto industry is served by four ports - Maputo, Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth. Hub solutions like the one adopted in Europe were the best for ro-ro ships, which had to pay 60% more in port costs than container ships, he said. He also called for more under-cover parking facilities at South African ports in order to ensure that vehicles were delivered in pristine condition.