Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has concluded a seven-year agreement with four Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) for the supply of critical spares to alleviate equipment constraints at the country’s ports.
TPT announced the agreement in a statement on Thursday highlighting that it covers the supply of spares across TPT’s terminals, including the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2.
TPT Durban Terminals managing executive Earl Peters said the move would lead to about a 30% improvement in straddle carrier availability at DCT Pier 2, boosting the efficiency of the offloading of containers from vessels, within the next two weeks.
TPT said DCT Pier 2 has focused on increasing volumes handled per 24-hour period as part of its recovery plan.
However, inclement weather, dredging by landlord Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and new vessel arrivals were “an ongoing factor that the team has integrated into its plans.
“Working with shipping lines, we have also identified and prioritised vessels with cargo that needs to make its way to the front of the queue”, Peters said.
The confinement agreements signed with the OEMs are aimed at reducing waiting times for critical spares of handling equipment like straddle carriers, ship-to-shore and rubber-tyred gantry cranes.
The process of developing a parts catalogue and aligning the coding of materials on both OEM and TPT systems started this week, and OEMs Kalmar, Liebherr, Kone Cranes and ZPMC have already started supplying spares.
They are currently prioritising a three-month list of demand materials in the container sector to ensure a bulk, uninterrupted supply.
Peters said TPT requires about 8 000 different material items from each OEM across its four divisions including containers, bulk, break bulk and automotive in its 16 sea-cargo terminals and three inland terminals.
