The elements conspire as MSC Lisbon is delayed

MSC Lisbon, at 9 178teu the largest container ship ever to call at the port of Cape Town, steamed sedately down the Atlantic Seaboard last Friday (February 6) after the ‘Cape Doctor’ had blown relentlessly, accounting for the vessel’s overall delay of around 52 hours. Despite operational headaches, not least the wind, Transnet Port Terminals did its level best to ensure a smooth passage for the 337-metre giant – but it had no way of dealing with the wind. MSC, a major player on trades into and out of South Africa, has always given port authorities credit where due, saying in this instance: “When TPT was able to work, they worked well.” MSC Lisbon arrived on schedule at 12:00 on Monday (February 2) but was only to enter port the following day due to the assigned berth (602) being occupied by MSC Flaminia. With a gantry crane at 602 out of action, a plan was devised to move Flaminia to berth 604 (occupied by MOL Cullinan) which would have allowed MSC Lisbon to berth at 602 as planned all along. Unfortunately, the MOL vessel was still working so this proved impractical. The ferocious wind blew remorselessly for 30 hours, largely accounting for the huge vessel’s overall delay of some 52 hours.