Durban - A Transnet de-congestion task team will tackle
the root causes of the Bayhead truck-related
gridlock entering the Durban harbour container
terminals.
On Tuesday, trucks were backed up from
the container terminals entrance towards South
Coast Road.
Port of Durban general manager Moshe Motlohi said they had created nine work-streams
to ensure improved co-ordination, planning,
operations, cargo flows and capacity at the
Durban container terminal (DCT).
Motlohi leads a team of private and public
sector entities. He said Bayhead Road had been
plagued by congestion attributed mainly to
operational inefficiencies at the DCT. In future,
there would be more visibility from Durban
metro police. There was also a possibility of
widening Bayhead Road.
“It affects the entire supply chain and
impacts shipping lines, the trucking fraternity
and the rail sector,” Motlohi said.
“A key intervention was the re-introduction
by terminal operator Transnet Port Terminals
of a mandatory truck appointment system. It is
considered best practice in the container sector
globally,” he said.
Since March 27, the system has helped to
reduce waiting times.
It enabled Transnet Port
Terminals to control the rate of collections and
deliveries and use land-side capacity optimally.
Motlohi said the port system was not synchronised in terms of hours of operation and days.
“In order for the current picture to change,
depots around the port would need to be in a
position to operate 24 hours a day, seven days
a week. They must be aligned with the operating hours of the container terminals.
Trucks
are dispatched accordingly and cargo can be
collected even during less popular hours, such
as weekends and after hours,” he said.
Terminal inefficiencies and poor land-side
performance were being improved.
“Challenges include the purchase of new
equipment, initiatives to address employee
morale and maintaining existing equipment to
deliver better reliability and efficiency,” he said.
Motlohi said the delivery of 23 new straddle
carriers was expected between June and July
this year.
“We are increasing the number of gangs of
people working. DCT Pier 2 has now increased
gangs from 11 to 13 with the 14th gang undergoing training. Pier 1 has five gangs and a sixth
undergoing training.”
They would be introducing an hourly management system where performance is monitored every hour per machine and per individual.
Truck drivers will be trained by the Transnet
Maritime School of Excellence in terms of processes, and the dos and don’ts within the port.