Transnet National Ports Authority is monitoring terminal performance carefully and working closely with operators and customers to improve Durban port's turnaround times, port manager Mpumi Dweba-Kwetana told Freight News on Wednesday.
She was responding to the latest concerns about delays in the port that were leading to some vessels’ growing reluctance to dock in Durban which had become “notorious” for congestion, as noted in Hudaco’s latest preliminary financial report for 2021.
The importer claimed that shipping lines were “increasingly becoming reluctant to dock in Durban port and endure docking and offloading delays and the ensuing related congestion, for which our largest container port has become notorious”.
Responding to the report, Dweba-Kwetana said that Durban port had embarked on biweekly ‘decongestion committee’ sessions that involved the industry at large.
“The committee looks at ways to minimise congestion on Bayhead Road and ensure port efficiency. These engagements have enabled us to identify those issues which can be solved immediately, and those which require external support,” he said.
The task team’s initiatives to eliminate the congestion include identifying truck staging or holding areas, and the implementation of the truck booking system.
“These measures are to ensure that trucks are turned around as per the agreed standards in order to ensure smooth operation,” she said.
On the ship side, the port, along with other SA ports, is closely monitoring performance to retain business.
“Daily, the Port of Durban has a meeting with container terminal operators and customers to look at the 24-hour performance of terminals in the ports of Durban, Cape Town and Ngqura. Secondly, as an oversight authority, TNPA, Port of Durban is, on a quarterly basis, monitoring the performance of terminal operators and insists on remedial actions to better improve the performance,” Dweba-Kwetana said.
Asked how many containers the port was currently moving per hour, she said this varied according to several factors.
“The number of containers loaded or offloaded per hour differs from terminal to terminal, based on the type of equipment the terminal has, and considering the adverse weather conditions,” she said.
