New port operation grows close to 80%

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TPT PE Car Terminal started operating in April 2013 when the harbour took on transshipment as an additional service.

It covers the off-loading of containers from one ship and loading them onto another ship, and is separate from the export of vehicles manufactured in the Eastern Cape, to other parts of the world. The transshipment vehicles are produced in one part of the world and destined for markets in another part.

The terminal has seen an increase in transshipment volumes of 79% from April last year to January this year.

This in effect has increased the volume throughput at the port with growth in vessel calls from six in 2013 to 16 last year.

The terminal now operates at 183 cargo units loaded onto and off a vessel per hour, so exceeding the target which was set at 150 cargo units per hour.

TPT PE terminal chief operations manager Andile Bono said the improved performance in cargo units per hour was a result of efficiencies and team work.

Transshipment was implemented after various shipping lines - including Mitsui OSK Lines, Sharaf Shipping Agency and Wallenius Walhelmsen Logistics - expressed a keen interest to call at the port.

Operations manager Stephanie Paul said shipping lines had expressed great satisfaction with the performance levels being achieved.

Looking ahead, Paul said: "Our goal is to ensure transshipment growth and to position the PE terminal as the automotive transshipment hub of sub-Saharan Africa."

Eastern Cape Terminals general manager Siya Mhlaluka said: "We are pleased that the PE Car Terminal is successfully contributing positively towards the Transnet market demand strategy by making use of opportunities and ensuring growth and skills development within the Eastern Cape."

PE Terminal manager Luvuyo Hobo said that, with the port positioned ideally between the Atlantic and Indian oceans, larger opportunities for transshipment were likely.

Source: Herald