... as clearance
of Durban backlog continues
THE BACKLOG at the Durban container terminal arising from the recent port strikes will be cleared within two to three weeks, says the CEO of SA Port Operations, Tau Morwe.
He said that congestion at other ports including Cape Town had already been cleared, leaving only the Durban container terminal, which was operating at 95% capacity, as a problem area.
To help ease the situation, trade unions have committed to working 12-hour shifts, which would be
sustained until January. Morwe appealed to all cargo owners to remove their import containers from the Durban terminal as soon as possible. Any further delays could have a drastic affect, he warned.
SAPO had agreed at a meeting with representatives of the container lines to waive storage costs for boxes delayed at the terminals during the strike and was also waiving the R35,00 amendment fee on ships' documents for a two-week period up until December 24, 2001.
Temba Gwala, general manager: container terminals told FTW that at least six ships had been diverted from Durban - four to East London and two to Port Elizabeth - to have their cargo of predominantly motor vehicles discharged or loaded there.
On Wednesday last week (12 December) Durban had 7 container ships on berth, with 6 ships waiting outside and another 3 arriving during the day. A total of 37 container ships was due that week compared with the usual 30.
Gwala confirmed reports that Spoornet had temporarily suspended all export rail traffic between City Deep and Kings Rest due to the congestion. He said this was necessary to avoid trains having to back up along the system. Spoornet had said it would review the situation on a day-to-day basis.
Meanwhile, the first 5 of an order for 60 new straddle carriers have arrived in Durban from Finland and are currently being assembled at the Durban container terminal. The balance is due over the next 12 months, with a second order for a further 37 having been ordered for delivery in 2003.
