Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Crime
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Events
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Africa
Logistics
Road/Rail Freight

War room to monitor Richards Bay movements

18 May 2023 - by Kevin Mayhew
 Source: Shutterstock
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

A daily war room on Road Motor Transport (RMT) reporting is one of several interventions aiming to resolve the issue of the coal truck buildup in the Port of Richards Bay.

It was established by Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), which has come under fire for an alleged lack of urgency at the clogged port.

In a statement released this week, the TNPA port manager for Richards Bay, Dennis Moadi, said the company, along with other stakeholders, is progressing in addressing the challenge of traffic congestion at the port.

"We are encouraged by the collaborative approach demonstrated by all stakeholders in recent meetings, where customers have committed to support initiatives proposed by the port and terminal operators, such as using the truck booking system effective from 13 May.”

This will allow customers to engage with transporters and cargo agents, Moadi said.

“It’s a great step in the right direction. We are confident that the compulsory use of the truck booking system and other initiatives will provide a lasting solution to the problem.”

Referring to "integrated stakeholder engagement to ensure alignment and a collective resolution of the congestion," he said such engagements include a daily war-room on RMT reporting, inter-governmental workshops to discuss medium to long-term solutions, and participation in a mayoral committee on matters affecting operations of the municipality and interventions.

Stakeholders involved in this collaborative effort include terminal operators, Transnet Freight Rail, the City of Umhlatuze, KwaZulu-Natal’s Department of Transport, and the South African National Roads Agency Limited.

Trucks accessing the port have been averaging 1 800 per day since March 2022, more than double the previous year's truck volume, mainly attributable to an unprecedented high demand for coal by the international market.

This has resulted in increased congestion around the port and municipal areas.

The statement also pointed to a degree of non-compliance by the truckers themselves.

It claimed that approximately 50% of truck arrivals at the port during March and April of 2023 did not follow the instruction of utilising the terminal booking system, which disrupts the flow of truck movement within the port.

In addition, a high level of heavy haul non-compliance has been identified as a contributing factor, with breakdowns, roadworthiness, and expired vehicle licenses compounding the traffic flow problems within the port.

TNPA has created extra staging capacity of 250 parking bays, separate from the Truck Staging Area.

Moadi emphasised that reports suggesting that the port is now used as a truck stop are factually incorrect, highlighting the port design and the directional flow of traffic make it impossible for such to occur.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

Looming food security crisis over SA’s Brazil poultry ban

Imports and Exports

Meat importers warn that the local industry will not be able to plug the gap left by the ban.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Institute conference set to focus on regional connectivity

Events
Logistics

The event brings together transport and logistics professionals from across the continent.

Yesterday
0 Comments

Punishing duties backfire on US economy

Economy
Imports and Exports

“South Africa must follow its own fiscal policies rather than the US Federal Reserve.” – Ricardo Smith, Absa chief investment officer.

Yesterday
0 Comments

RFA warns of imminent B-BBEE codes risk

Logistics
Road/Rail Freight

The association plans to meet with the transport minister to discuss how the codes will hurt the industry.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

OBITUARY: Trade giant Pat Corbin passes on

Logistics
People
Trade/Investment

Over the years, Corbin was intrinsically involved in international trade, finance and logistics.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

South Africa cements position as leading apple exporter

Imports and Exports

South Africa is growing its lead over rival Chile since surpassing it in 2023.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

DRC-Walvis Bay trade route in development

Road/Rail Freight

The new corridor will be 235km shorter than the current Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi corridor and up to seven days faster.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

MSC confirms weekly continuation of SA-US direct sailings

Sea Freight

In total, eight vessels will be deployed for the express service to America's East Coast.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

DP World plans $2.5 bn expansion

Infrastructure
Logistics

From Ecuador to England and Senegal to India the company is growing its global logistics network through infrastructure investment.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

Box ship sinks off Kochi coast, raising dangerous cargo alarms

Sea Freight

The Indian Coast Guard and the Indian Navy successfully evacuated all 24 crew.

27 May 2025
0 Comments

OPINION: Who’s leading the charge in SA's supply chain digital revolution?

Logistics
Technology
Trade/Investment

The report highlights a clear shift from reactive supply chain strategies to predictive and proactive models, powered by real-time data and AI.

26 May 2025
0 Comments

South Africa will dodge 30% tariff bullet – Steenhuisen

Imports and Exports
Trade/Investment
26 May 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

Namibia 23 May 2025

Border Beat

BMA steps in to help DG and FMCG cargo at Groblersbrug
21 May 2025
The N4 Maputo Corridor crossing – congestion, crime and potholes
12 May 2025
Fuel-crime curbing causes tanker build-up at Moz border
08 May 2025
More

Featured Jobs

New

JNR Seafreight Export Controller

Tiger Recruitment
Johannesburg (Linbro Park)
28 May
New

Supply Chain Specialist

Lee Botti & Associates
Cape Town
28 May
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us