Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has called for a detailed recovery plan to reduce the vessel and landside backlog at Durban Gateway Terminal (DGT) after inspecting the terminal.
The inspection follows weeks of serious disruption at the former Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 after DGT moved to the NAVIS N4 operating system under International Container Terminal Services Inc. (ICTSI).
Creecy said vessel waiting times had fallen but remained too high. Ships currently wait about 8.3 days, while the terminal’s target is 24 hours.
The Minister said DGT would need time to reach the 24-hour target and has asked the terminal and its operating partners to set out a specific plan to clear the existing backlog.
Creecy made the comments after a joint briefing with DGT CEO Javier Lancha de Micheo and Transnet chairperson Solly Letsoalo. DGT also plans to replace its current truck appointment system to improve the movement of containers through the terminal.
Lancha said DGT will introduce a new digital truck booking system. The terminal will meet trucking associations next week to discuss the requirements for the new system.
Transnet Freight Rail also plans to increase container train services between DGT and the Bayhead back-of-port facility from two to about five trains per day. The additional rail capacity will provide another way to move containers out of the port and reduce pressure on road transport.
DGT is also introducing a hybrid yard operation that will use straddle carriers alongside internal haulers, reach stackers and empty-container handlers.
The terminal has started refurbishing its handling equipment. It refurbished three straddle carriers in September and plans to refurbish another 10 from December. Work on seven quay cranes is expected to start in November, while 12 new straddle carriers are scheduled to arrive by July 2027.
ICTSI plans to invest about R737 million in the immediate recovery programme and around R1.2 billion over the next two years. The investment includes 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes for the south quay.
source: maritimeafrica
