Terminal partnerships the way to go - TPT

Terminal partnerships with
various industry stakeholders
are the way to go to find
workable solutions for the
various day-to-day challenges
at the Durban Container
Terminal (DCT).
That was the message from
Transnet Port Terminals (TPT)
chief executive, Karl Socikwa,
who told FTW in an
exclusive interview
that TPT was
forging closer
relationships
with the
transport
industry.
“We are
working
closely with
industry
bodies such
as the Durban
Harbour Carriers’
Association (DHCA) and just
two weeks ago we had quite
a heated, but honest, meeting
where I believe we came to a
better mutual understanding.
“It’s when we don’t engage
enough that there is speculation
around problems that get out
of hand. And of course the
challenge is also engaging with
those transporters who aren’t
part of any association.”
He said “major progress”
had been made through the
establishment of terminal
partnerships with the shipping
lines over the past nine to 12
months. “We have a great vessel
berthing booking system which
the shipping lines are sticking
to and we’ve seen a 20% to 25%
improvement in efficiency,” said
Socikwa.
He added that TPT had
been working with Transnet
Freight Rail (TFR) to align its
schedules with vessel berthing
times and had “made good
progress around this”.
“The relationship
first starts with
the shipping
line, then
the landside
operations,”
he said. TPT
had created a
similar truck
booking system
but to date, there
had only been a 40%
(or less) take-up of it by
the hauliers, he added. “We
are trying to establish why this
is because we fully believe a
lot of the challenges would be
addressed if the transporters
took advantage of this system,”
said Socikwa.
A major failing by TPT,
Socikwa admitted, was
insufficient engagement with
the freight forwarders. “We
are addressing this by seeking
closer relationships with
industry bodies such as the
South African Association of
Freight Forwarders,” he said.