Congestion problems eased at Durban container terminal

Container Liner Operator's Forum (CLOF) and Transnet say that the congestion problem has been brought under control at South Africa's Durban Container Terminal (DCT), with berthing delays limited to less than 16 hours.This comes after the CLOF and Transnet implemented an action plan to reduce vessel delays amid reports of ships taking as long as three days to berth, according to South Africa's Engineering News. Transnet operates the terminal through its subsidiary, the South African Port Operations (Sapo), and the CLOF, which represents shipping lines using the terminal. A key aspect of the plan is the deployment of senior management at a 24/7 operations-command centre, which is responsible for monitoring operations and taking remedial steps, increasing capacity and creating yard stacking space. The development is expected to have averted the threat of shipping lines imposing surcharges on containers moving through the port, which would have burdened freight forwarders and consignees. The report said that in response to earlier delays at the DCT, carriers introduced a US$100 surcharge per TEU in 2003 to recover additional transportation costs, which was cancelled last year when the situation improved. Authorities also intend to rebuild berths five and six at Island View and have them up and running by the end of 2008. Other works in the pipeline include the extension of the port into the Bayhead marshalling yards and creating a new basin where the larger container vessels can berth.