Congestion at the South African port of Cape Town has seen significant improvements, with truck turnaround times decreasing to 51 minutes in February, alongside a reduction in the number of vessels waiting at anchor. The port experienced an increase in truck traffic, handling up to 7,865 trucks weekly by the end of February, up from 5,500 at the beginning. Additionally, a new reefer loading record was set on 10 February 2024, with 1,726 reefers loaded onto a single vessel, surpassing the previous 2021 record.
Oscar Borchards, the acting Western Cape Terminals Managing Executive, credited these enhancements to the optimization of the Navis terminal operating system and improved container yard management. Despite the general congestion in South African ports, Cape Town has faced particular challenges due to increased fruit exports during peak seasons. The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has coordinated with fruit exporters to optimize truck arrivals for loading, navigating the global shortage of refrigerated containers.
Hortgro, a fruit industry association, acknowledged the progress but noted it was partly due to fewer wind delays compared to previous years. They also highlighted ongoing challenges, including the port's reliance on outdated equipment and the need for long-term reputation improvement. The port's infrastructure saw some updates, with seven refurbished rubber tired gantry cranes (RTGs) from Los Angeles becoming operational in December, although these were allocated to the Multi-Purpose Terminal.
Source: worldcargonews.com