TPT addresses wind-related equipment concerns

The capabilities of Cape Town Container Terminal’s 28 new eight-wheel Kalmar RTGs came under the spotlight at a business briefing in the Mother City last week. In October, Akash Maharaj, TPT national capacity and projects manager, told FTW the equipment was “structurally safe” to work up to 90km/h at reduced speed but customers claim they are not working in wind beyond 72km/h at any of the terminals in the country. Velile Dube, TPT’s regional terminal executive for Cape Town and Saldanha, said there was precious little one could do about gusts appearing from nowhere when the machine was operating at 72km/h. “We are talking with the manufacturer to see how we can recalibrate this equipment to operate at 80km/h with the operator still feeling safe inside,” he said. Speaking at the briefing, acting TPT CEO Karl Socikwa noted among TPT’s achievements in 2009/10 a 6.5% increase in export iron ore loading rates at Saldanha. He conceded, however, that there was a need to improve ship turnaround time, shipping delays due to the performance of tugs, pilots and berthing staff and belowtarget container handling rates. He said Transnet’s total capital investment of R72 billion over the past five years was funded on the strength of its financial position, R18.4 billion of it in 2009/10 alone, of which a significant proportion was in the Western Cape, with more to come over the next five years. Turning from ports to rail, Socikwa said of the Department of Transport’s proposed high speed rail network between Johannesburg and Gauteng: “A high speed rail network between Cape Town and Johannesburg is something we seriously need to think of in terms of future demand.”