Vessel delayed for 167 hours in CT

Implementation of a new terminal operating system, heavy vessel bunching and unwelcome winds, resulted in considerable delays to container shipping in Cape Town last week. The new Navis operating/ tracking system for cargo was implemented on September 1, replacing the ten year old Cosmos system, but there have clearly been some teething problems which have slowed operations as business unit executive, Oscar Borchards, concedes. The build-up of vessels (not all containerships) outside the port has been notable over the past few weeks as have windrelated delays. On top of that, even though Berth 601 is back in operation with its new Liebherr cranes, 602 is now out awaiting its cranes, thus cutting the terminal’s overall capacity by some 25%. MSC Boston arrived October 2 and berthed six days later, delayed for 167.50 hours, and Kota Waris was delayed for 133.67 hours while awaiting berthing for four days. MSC Levina was delayed in berthing for 67 hours and Ital Fortunia for 67.67 hours. Even longer delays were evident, too, but these can be put down to transhipment vessels awaiting cargo, MSC Dallas, for instance, which had been delayed for 170.58 hours come the morning of October 9.