Durban port terminal congestion could last until February
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
The Pier 2 container terminal at the port of Durban could take several months to clear its backlog, South African Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said. New equipment is expected in December and gradual improvement is forecast until February, while delays continue to raise costs for importers and exporters, according to IOL.
Durban port’s Pier 2 container terminal could take until February to clear its congestion, South Africa’s Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said, according to IOL. She expects new equipment to arrive in December and operations to improve gradually until February.
Speaking yesterday at the Frank Dialogue in uMhlanga, Barbara Creecy said she had counted 39 ships off Durban when she arrived on Wednesday, compared with 32 during a previous visit. Eight were linked to Durban Gateway Terminal, the private operator of Pier 2. The minister cautioned, however, that not all waiting ships could be attributed to difficulties at the terminal.
The disruption began in August, after the terminal switched to the Navis N4 computer system, which affected cargo movements, truck bookings and ship operations. The delays are imposing additional costs on importers, exporters and transporters. Pier 2 handles about 46% of South Africa’s container volumes, according to Transnet.
Durban Gateway Terminal has operated Pier 2 since January under a 25-year partnership between Transnet, South Africa’s state-owned transport and logistics company, and Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services Inc. Transnet retains a majority stake, while the Philippine company manages daily operations. Creecy acknowledged that the system change had been poorly planned and that the port needed upgraded equipment.
