TNPA comes up with helpful contingencies

The shutdown of Wharf 13 on
Maydon Wharf in the Port of
Durban for its upgrade has not led
to any explosive reaction from the
breakbulk lines which use it.
This is contrary to when the
berth outage plan was originally
announced and too many berths
were due for an upgrade at one
time. No alternative plans were
made, and lines were faced with
Transnet National Ports Authority
(TNPA) taking a “do as we say”
attitude.
But that has all changed,
according to Peter Besnard, CEO
of the SA Association of Ship
Operators and Agents (Saasoa).
“They have now started to
listen to the lines’ problems,
and are coming up with helpful
contingency plans,” he told FTW.
“It was good that everybody was
able to put their heads together
and come up with workable
alternatives.”
He also pointed out that the
lines had known about the
upgrade sequence since 2012,
and had been able to prepare
themselves for berth outages.
“So this wasn’t suddenly
forced on us, and everybody also
recognised and accepted that
the berth just had to be done,”
Besnard added. “It was in very
poor condition after decades of
hard use. But, once it’s completed,
it will once again be a good
surface to work on.”
He also noted that the waterside
on the container terminal’s
Berths 108 and 109 was due to be
finished this week, and the final
touches to the landside upgrading
by end August.
“The ships that were diverted
to other terminals in the harbour
will move back there, and that will
also take the pressure off these
alternative berths, including those
on Maydon Wharf,” Besnard said.