Stakeholders work in tandem to address port overload issues

'Road train' makes minimum 44 trips a day AS CONTAINER volumes through the port of Durban continue to increase, so too do the challenges faced by the port and its users. But, according to Safmarine KwaZulu-Natal area manager Greg Rohrs, the line is working closely with port officials and shippers to find constructive and effective solutions to port congestion and other issues faced by South Africa’s busiest port. “Not only is there a strong sense of cooperation between all stakeholders, but the future of Durban port and its importance to the city is receiving attention at the highest levels.” Local government’s success in attracting business to the Durban area has emphasised the importance of improving the port and its supporting infrastructure to the benefit of both the city and the entire KZN region, says Rohrs. “Predictions are that the Durban container terminal will increase throughput from 1.6 million containers to 2.2 million TEUs by the end of 2007 so there is significant support for the current proposal to build a new container terminal away from the City,” he added. Rohrs says all the relevant companies within the Safmarine group – the entity that represents the interests of the A.P. Moller- Maersk Group in South Africa – are working to find solutions by moving containers as quickly as possible from the port of Durban to their final destination. “For example, the IDC – one of the trucking companies within our Group – offers a dedicated ‘roadtrain’ with a minimum of 44 trips a day,” he says.