Growing regional
competition from the likes of
Namibia and Mozambique
was forcing
Transnet Port
Terminals
to take
stock – and
a new focus
on customer
relationship
management
across all
the sectors
was part and
parcel of a
new company
approach,
senior
manager
strategy, Willie Coetsee,
told delegates at last
week’s Transport Forum in
Midrand.
Coetsee confirmed that
Transnet’s Market Demand
Strategy implemented in
2012 would go ahead, but
with possible
adjustments to
timelines in some
cases.
“We all know
that commodity
markets are
in free fall. Prices of
commodities have dropped
by 10% since October so it’s
challenging times.
“Our initial strategic
projection when the MDS
was launched
was for
economic
growth in
South Africa
of 3-4% for
2016 and
10-12% for
China.
“We didn’t
foresee the
current
challenges
and part
of what we
are trying
to do is to
chase volumes we thought we
would have.”
There would obviously
be some adjustments, but
much-needed expansion in
the ports and rail system
wouldn’t be halted, he said.
Over and above the
investment in
infrastructure a
lot of effort was
being focused
on bringing
equipment and
people closer
together and making the
system more efficient –
increasing the moves per
ship working hour to turn
vessels around faster, said
Coetsee.
“We will be working in
partnership with Freight
Rail and National Ports
Authority to improve supply
chain efficiencies through
initiatives identified in
Transnet Value Chain
Coordination (TVCC).”
The berth deepening
project at the Durban
Container Terminal will
start in 2016/17 and will
see the deepening and
lengthening of the north
quay. The terminal will have
three deep water berths that
will ramp up capacity at
Durban Container Terminal
Pier 2 to 2.9 million TEUs
once completed in 2022/23.
INSERT 1
Market Demand
Strategy will go
ahead, but with
possible adjustments
to timelines in some
cases.
– Willie Coetsee
INSERT 2
2.9m The projected TEU capacity
at DCT Pier 2 in 2022/23.
CAPTION
Willie Coetsee, TPT senior manager strategy.
TPT focuses on customer relationship management
Comments | 0
