TPT adopts partnership strategy to speed up turnaround times

Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) is taking its efficiency upgrade strategy well beyond infrastructure upgrades. “We know that we need better equipment and that is being addressed through the infrastructure programme that we have launched,” said Velile Dube, TPT general manager operations for the Western Cape region. “We also need ‘people transformation’ which means changing the mindset of our employees through training and development as well as customer engagement to ensure we are addressing our customers’ needs all the time.” A recent port partnership programme undertaken with Maersk Line that saw the average stay of a vessel at TPT terminals reduced by about 25% is evidence of the success of this strategy, he said. Through partnership TPT is able to see practically while working with a shipping line where it can improve and speed up vessel turnaround, said Dube. He said the partnering programme had been very valuable and TPT had taken the same concept developed by Maersk and applied it in a pilot project to train turnaround times. “The results have been extremely good – a reduction in working hours from 17.3 to 6.6 hours, and a 65% reduction in train turnaround time.” CAPTION Velile Dube ... ‘We also need people transformation.’