Truckers predict ongoing congestion at port terminal

The New Year news from the Port of Durban container trucking brigade is that congestion at the terminals is just as bad as last year. “Whether it’s good, bad or ugly varies from day to day and week to week,” said Kevin Martin, chairman of the Durban Harbour Carriers’ Association (DHCA). “It all depends on what vessels berth and how much they have to offload and load.” Martin also stressed that the future container flow in and out of the port would be dictated largely by the Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) port master plan. “It depends on what vessels they put where,” he said. “It’s certainly going to need careful planning to ensure that the container movement remains fluid.” And the refurbishment programme for the Maydon Wharf breakbulk and bulk berths is a possible spanner in the works for the port’s fluidity. The TNPA’s latest plan is that the New Pier (Pier 1) container terminal area will come into play in alleviating the capacity that will be dictated largely by the Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) port master plan. “It depends on what vessels they put where,” he said. “It’s certainly going to need careful planning to ensure that the container movement remains fluid.” And the refurbishment programme for the Maydon Wharf breakbulk and bulk berths is a possible spanner in the works for the port’s fluidity. The TNPA’s latest plan is that the New Pier (Pier 1) container terminal area will come into play in alleviating the capacity that will be down at Maydon Wharf. The waterside on the southern side (the former Navy side) of this pier has only been used for lay-bys and bunkers up to now. The landside, meanwhile, has most recently been used as a storage area for the contractors working on the port upgrade. But TNPA now proposes that Berth 100 will be utilised for fishing vessels, and 101–103 for commercial activity for “clean cargo”. But FTW was warned by Martin, there will be anything but an easy flow of the breakbulk freight vehicles on the New Pier. The flow of construction vehicles was certainly smooth. “But,” Martin added, “it was easy enough for the gate guards to recognise the construction vehicles and wave them through. But when it comes to freight vehicles, they will have to stop and go through the usual checks. “And, with the number of breakbulk trucks you can expect, that is likely to be anything but a smooth flow. It will just add to congestion that already occurs quite a lot at Pier 1, and to the usual congestion on the Bayhead Road.”