Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has increased the number of cranes and employees deployed at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) in a move to mitigate the negative impact of the recent windy weather conditions on the terminal’s operations.
Windy conditions in the past two weeks have affected the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT), which has lost over 200 operational hours, resulting in 12 vessels waiting at anchor. During this period, wind speeds have been between 100 km/h and 120 km/h, well beyond the 80 km/h threshold for safe cargo handling.
The terminal has boosted its operational capacity by deploying eight cranes and eight operational teams per shift, up from seven each. According to Western Cape Region Managing Executive, Oscar Borchards: “Weather affects our operations often and we’ve resourced ourselves to be able to recover within acceptable times when it clears”. He added that last month, the terminal handled 5% more volumes, when compared to January 2024, despite experiencing some weather-related challenges.
The technical team and the original equipment manufacturers contracted to the terminal for the next six years, are on standby to address any equipment breakdowns which may arise when operations resume. “We are not fully capacitated to work a standard eight gang shift. However, we have had to bring in employees who are currently off duty to clear the backlog. Some have been called from leave and all internal meetings have been cancelled to ensure everyone is on the ground,” said Borchards, adding that the terminal was tracking progress on an hourly basis.
The terminal is at the peak of its deciduous fruit season, which runs from November to March annually. While the wind is predicted to escalate for the next two days, the terminal is also closely monitoring truck appointments to help streamline operations.
