What went wrong?

COMMENTING ON reasons for the negotiation impasse, Barry New told FTW: “For a variety of reasons, government decided the process was flawed and that issues could as a consequence not be reconciled.
“We are still very interested and have already been advised we will be invited to re-tender when the new process comes about.”
Whether or when a new deal will be cemented is difficult to foretell as it will depend much on the structure of the tender, in addition to which New points out such processes do not come about overnight.
“Obviously there are issues to be addressed like lead time in setting up terminal operations, but I get the impression government is more concerned with structuring the right arrangement going forward as opposed to being pushed into something prematurely.”
He declined to reveal the level of P&O Nedlloyd’s financial involvement were it to win the tender bid, apart from acknowledging it would be substantial. “Our financial commitment would pretty much be centred on the structure of the whole deal.”
“It is difficult to say how important that role will be as there will be automatic business growth in the Eastern Cape, but ultimately there is going to have to be some sort of rationalisation between the two ports.”