TPT achieves ambitious productivity targets

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has set ambitious productivity goals, and figures just released to FTW indicate that these are being achieved at both Durban container terminal (DCT) Pier 2 and Pier 1. The figures for gross crane hours (GCH) – which is the common measure of productivity in the container handling business – have improved from an average of 27 in March to 30 in April at the prime Berth 205 at the DCT Pier 2. At prime Berth 108 at Pier 1 the figures are 27-GCH in March and 28 in April. This measurement of crane productivity is considered a crucial factor in container shipping, where the fast and efficient movement of containers by crane operators effectively reduces the overall cost of doing business. Meantime, ship working hours (SWH) – the number of containers that have been moved by the number of cranes working on the vessel in one hour – have also improved at both prime berths. At Berth 205 they went up from an average of 62-SWH in March to 69 in April. And at Berth 108 it increased from 62-SWH in March to 68 in April. When TPT introduced the container terminal operations contract (CTOC) – which guaranteed berthing on arrival – reward and penalty clauses were embedded in the contract for higher productivity performances. Using this measure, the TPT performance at the two berths registered CTOC compliance of 67% in March and 76% in April. TPT is also rather proud of its vessels’ waiting figures. These have fallen from a figure of about 6.5 vessels waiting for berthing at Pier 2 last August 1 to a figure of only one this month (May 7). There has been an average of less than two vessels waiting for the past three months, TPT told FTW, and there has been a significant trend volume decline for the container sector this year. TPT also claims success in improving road transport performance in the past year, with fast-falling truck turnaround times despite increased gate volumes. The performance graph shows that truck turnaround time – the time between entering and leaving the terminal for the loading/ offloading of containers – averaged about 55 minutes last April 1, with a gate volume of around 1 520 containers. This has dropped to under 30 minutes on the first of this month, with gate volume about 2 320 containers. “Truck turnaround time in Pier 2 is averaging 35 minutes for the last four months,” said TPT, “and the volume has gone up during this period.” But a number of truckers argue this point, insisting that it indicates the time taken from in-gate to outgate, but doesn’t allow for the possible hours taken sitting parked outside on Bayhead Road waiting to get into the staging area. However, TPT is confident that this will be overcome when it introduces the truck booking pilot scheme at DCT Pier 2 in June this year. (See page 9.)