Transnet’s new CT cold store still shrouded in secrecy

NO RIGHT-thinking business would enter into a
multi-million rand development contract without
thorough homework – as Transnet has clearly done
on its new cold store at Cape Town’s E-berth –
which is why the fruit and shipping industry remain
totally mystified by the parastatal’s ongoing silence
over its venture.
There hasn’t been a single word from Transnet
Port Terminals since FTW broke the story in March,
despite laborious attempts to get to the heart of
the matter.
It is therefore appropriate to record that not a
single Transnet official has been willing to discuss
the matter, feigning ignorance or simply
not responding.
Equally significant is that the fruit industry,
major container shipping carriers and the container
industry are totally in the dark over the
new venture.
“Clandestine”, is how the Fresh Produce
Exporters’ Forum’s Stuart Symington puts it.
His organisation represents the country’s most
influential perishables players.
It’s a clear bone of contention with rival FPT, the
diversified Capespan subsidiary with a significant
interest in fruit which is still a major handling
commodity despite declining volumes. The issue was
raised at a recent logistics workshop in Franschhoek,
again with no satisfactory response from Transnet.
Says Symington of the FPEF: “It seems a little
unusual that a facility of this size would be built
under the nose of a private sector competitor
where breakbulk fruit volumes have been waning
at the expense of container volumes. Perhaps
Transnet’s business plan includes storage of products
other than fresh fruits and in modes other than
conventional pallet modes.”
The state-of-the art, forced-air cooling facility
can handle up to 1 000 pallets every 24 hours. Its
total capacity is 4 000 pallets. The project has been
on the go since May 2007 and was rumoured to be
opening possibly at the end of April this year.
It is predominantly a high cube, containerisation
facility able to handle conventional vessel pallets
as well. However, the balance will be far in
containerisation’s favour, utilising E and F berths,
with FPT – a rival cold store operator – having
access to B,C and D berths.