Ports in southern Africa
need to collaborate if they
are to stand a chance against
the alliances being formed
by shipping lines and the
changes this brings to
container traffic.
According to Aruna
Bunwaree Ramsaha, deputy
director general for the
Mauritius Ports Authority,
global demand for containers
is continuing to increase – in
Africa as well
– but shipping
lines are the
controlling
role-players.
“Ports in
former times
were more
powerful
than shipping
lines or ship
operators as
they were
terminal
points. Nowadays we are
nodal points, simply one link
in a chain and the shipping
lines are far
more powerful
than ports –
particularly in
the container
transport
industry,” she
said. “If a port
cannot deliver
what the
line wants, it
simply leaves
and takes the
traffic with it.”
She said the demands
were clear – faster
turnaround times,
infrastructure to allow
for bigger vessels, better
equipment and improved
service delivery.
“Ports will have to
work to deliver these
requirements but as a
region we are going to have
to work together so that
we are not upgrading and
improving infrastructure
at the expense of another
port.”
She said southern Africa
was expected to grow and
transhipment hubs would
therefore be required, but
not all ports could be these
hubs.
“Regional ports are
going to have to engage
more to ensure that the
right infrastructure is
being created at the right
points to ensure we are
an effective region and
not individual ports with
capacity,” she said. “To
deliver on the requests we
are getting from shipping
lines ports are going to have
to invest in infrastructure,
equipment and staff. There
is no point having 5-star
infrastructure but lousy
service. Globally there
is a move towards the
privatisation of container
handling operations and as
ports we are going to have
to start looking into this.”
She said port investment
to respond to growing
container trade and
shipping line demand would
have to be approached from
a regional perspective to
ensure long-term results.
INSERT & CAPTION
If a port cannot
deliver what the
line wants, it simply
leaves and takes the
traffic with it.
– Aruna Bunwaree Ramsaha
