Service inconsistency hampers port operationssmoother interface between rail and ports essential

KEVIN MAYHEW
DURBAN’S PORT operations and infrastructural improvements are hampered by inconsistency of service when utilising the infrastructure, according to the director of MSC Logistics, Lawrie Bateman.
The announcement recently by the chief executive of Transnet, Maria Ramos, that it is to focus on its core businesses of National Ports Authority, SA Port Operations, Spoornet and petroleum pipelines is welcome as long as regulations are put in place to make for smoother running and interface between rail and the ports, he said.
“We have instances of vessel delays getting down to 16 hours and then things go awry again and there are long delays. This creates a domino effect resulting in a bottleneck into and out of the harbour.
“The issue of Kings Rest is prime. Containers run into a grey area of responsibility. Is it a Spoornet responsibility once they get into Kings Rest or is it that of Sapo? These lead to additional expenses which must be eliminated, ” says Bateman.
Despite this our principal, MSC, will include Durban in its plans to upgrade its fleet by introducing bigger ships worldwide. Ports all over the world have problems, therefore we still have a lot of confidence in the management of the port to make the correct decisions based on customer input.