TPT vows to sort out Navis gremlins

Transnet Port Terminals Cape Town has acted with alacrity to address grave customer disquiet over the functionality of the container terminal’s new Navis terminal system headaches. Moshe Motlohi, the new container terminal executive, has assured priority attention of the highest order following a complaint by a member of the Cape Town Harbour Carriers’ Association over time and money lost as a consequence of Navis gremlins. “Navis is used worldwide by many port operators so there should be no question of doubting its efficacy,” he added. “We have done an analysis of the issues affecting the stability, preliminary indicators pointing to two broad categories – technical and change managementrelated issues.” A team has been set up to look at the origins of the technical issues in order to isolate those originating from the local environment (Cape Town) and address them at this level. “Parallel to this, TPT will identify issues that originate from the national set-up and then look at intervention to address these, to be shared in due course with relevant stakeholders.” On change management, Motlohi points to its relevance given that TPT’s Cape Town complement has been through much change over the past six months – the switch from Cosmos to Navis, and at the same time straddle carriers replaced by an RTG operation. “We have now embarked on a drive to enhance our efforts with regard to change management, and these will be accompanied by a huge communication drive. TPT Cape Town has appointed a new communications manager, Ayanda Mantshongo, in order to achieve “an agreed protocol when it comes to our engagements.”