Three-way partnership adds plug points in PE harbour

ED RICHARDSON A PARTNERSHIP between PE Cold Storage, hauliers and the port of Port Elizabeth saw the provision of an additional 40 plug points in the harbour to cope with the demand during peak citrus season. The temporary storage facility on land provided by the port provides a back-up in times of congestion due to poor weather and other delays in Port Elizabeth, according to Len Cowley of PE Cold Storage. The company paid for the installation of the points and pays for the power supply and security – all at no cost to its clients. “Fortunately, both the port and transporters came to the party. The National Ports Authority provides the land free, while the transporters do not charge for cross-hauling the containers between our cooling sheds and the plug points,” he says. It is a joint effort designed to keep as much freight in the Eastern Cape as possible, says Cowley. Improved levels of service through Port Elizabeth mean that there is no need to transport perishables through Cape Town. PE Cold Storage has also been able to increase its service levels by inviting agents and personnel in the nearby pack houses on tours of the facility in the Port Elizabeth harbour. “Once we take them through the process they understand how important it is that the documentation is correct and how expensive it is to make mistakes,” he says.