Solution to port shuttle bus debate no closer

The problem of port users being
compelled to travel in a shuttle bus in
the ports of Durban and Richards Bay
is still under furious debate between
users and port management – but no
nearer a solution.
The demand is that all port users
have to park their cars on entering the
ports, and use the shuttle buses for
accessing the various quays around the
docks.
It was a loud complaint in Durban
all of last year, and spread its wings to
Richards Bay at year-end – to be met
with equally loud moans of discontent.
According to Carl Webb, MD of
Project Logistics Management and a
disturbed user of the Port of Durban,
it has been a long battle between the
freight industry and the SA Association
of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) on the
one side and Transnet Port Terminals
(TPT) on the other.
The case laid by the port users
was simple. The system may well be
suitable for personnel who do not have
to access the harbour on a regular
basis. “But it’s totally impractical and
counter-productive for regular port
users and customers of TPT.”
When the shuttle bus idea moved
on to Richards Bay on December 5,
port user Dave Gardner, RB branch
manager of Macs Shipping, told
FTW that the Durban argument was
exacerbated by another factor at RB.
The massive spread of quays at this
huge port meant that regular users
were consuming too much time each
working day just waiting for, and
travelling by shuttle bus.
But, although the RB port users
immediately called on TPT to discuss
their concerns, they were initially met
with the block that the directive had
come from Brian Molefe, group CEO
of Transnet.
A further meeting, Gardner told
FTW last week, only led to a port
users’ committee being set up to
handle the problem, but with TPT
management postponing any more
discussions on the issue till February.
A similar stall tactic has been
adopted by TPT in Durban, according
to Webb. “No further movement or
meetings of any type,” he told FTW.
“And it’s getting worse because the
summer rainy season has started,
and port users are getting soaked
just hanging around waiting for
shuttle buses.”