With good harvests resulting in a forecasted 15% increase in volumes exported this year, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has assured industry of its commitment to making South Africa’s citrus fruit season successful again.
To support increased volumes, all container terminals across KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) will have dedicated lanes for refrigerated containers at the gates, according to TPT General Manager of Commercial and Planning, Michelle van Buren Schele. “We will also increase the number of truck appointment slots based on demand and capacity during this season across KZN and the Eastern Cape”, she said. Customers have been urged to place orange stickers on steri-protocol refrigerated containers to ensure two-hourly monitoring in line with the company’s commitment.
The recruitment and training of over 200 additional cargo coordinators and port workers for the next seven months is currently under way. Some terminals are receiving new equipment including haulers, trailers, reach stackers and empty container handlers that will enhance landside operations. Additional capacity has also been created at each terminal to improve the fast turnaround of empty containers, with stacking up to six containers high. All electric plugs are being tested and maintained to ensure operational efficiency. In addition, the evacuation of import containers via rail to back-of-port facilities would remain in place to enable fluidity on the landside handling.
In Durban, a total of three terminals have been resourced to prepare for the season. The Durban Container Terminals Pier 1 has confirmed a total of 1440 plug points with back-up power. The Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 has a total of 2424 plug points while the Durban Multipurpose Terminal has 277 plug points. In Gqeberha, the Ngqura Container Terminal has confirmed a total of 1 652 plug points and the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal a total of 932.
According to van Buren Schele, TPT was also engaging depots and cargo owners. “Previously, we’ve focused our communication efforts on the shipping lines, citrus growers and cold stores. This time, we’d like to fully engage the broader supply chain to ensure better planning and alignment” she said.
TPT will enhance its communication regarding opening stacks to ensure depots and cold stores achieve maximum flexibility. “It is crucial for the industry to make use of the entire 24-hour operational window at terminals to ensure a successful season,” said van Buren Schele. The global political landscape and the potential effects of the Red Sea crisis are factors influencing shipping rotations that teams are strategically planning for and discussing with shipping lines.
Citrus fruits make up over 50% of all fruits produced in South Africa, with the country ranking as one of the top three citrus fruit global suppliers in the world. The Netherlands, China, the United Kingdom, Russia and the United Arab Emirates are the largest consumers of the country’s exports. o a logistic solutions provider.
