<\/p>\n
<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here.<\/p>\n<p><strong>JIMMY MOYAHA:<\/strong> The Transnet National Ports Authority [TNPA], particularly the Port of Cape Town, has noted some significant improvements in operational performance. We\u2019re going to look at this in a bit more detail with the acting port manager for the Port of Cape Town at TNPA.<\/p>\n<p>Ophelia Shabane joins me on the line to see what we make of this. Ophelia, lovely having you on the show. Thanks so much for taking the time.<\/p>\n<p>What were some of the challenges that the Port of Cape Town has had to contend with up to this point? I know weather was a rather bizarre but serious challenge from an operational standpoint. What were some of the other challenges that the port is having to contend with thus far?<\/p>\n<p><strong>OPHELIA SHABANE:<\/strong> Good evening, Jimmy, and thank you so much for the opportunity and for having me online today. I think, as we\u2019ve highlighted quite well, weather has been a serious [challenge] in the port of Cape Town, specifically around very strong winds in the summer months \u2013 which is also the time that we\u2019re very busy, because that\u2019s the peak of our fruit-export season.<\/p>\n<p>Read:\u00a0Transnet invites private sector partnership for Cape Town Port [2024]<\/p>\n<p>In the past we\u2019ve also battled with equipment challenges that really affected the equipment \u2026 availability in order for us to be able to handle the vessels.<\/p>\n<div class=\"visible-sm-block visible-xs-block m1010\">\n<div class=\"ad-container-wrapper\">\n<p>ADVERTISEMENT<\/p>\n<p>CONTINUE READING BELOW<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>I think more than anything, it had an impact on our performance areas, specifically the efficiencies.<\/p>\n<p>One of the greatest things or one of the good stories out of the Port of Cape Town is that we\u2019ve been significantly able to improve our ship turnaround time, meaning the time that it takes specifically for container vessels to come into the port, to work their cargo, and be able to exit.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>I think in the past two to three years \u2013 from 2023 all the way up to 2024 \u2013 we\u2019ve been able to reduce the ship turnaround time by a considerable 28%.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>That means vessels are staying for a shorter period in the port as they continue to work cargo.<\/p>\n<p><strong>JIMMY MOYAHA:<\/strong> Thanks, Ophelia. What are some of the challenges that persist? I can imagine it\u2019s not a perfect science to run a port with some of the challenges that are beyond your control. Those that might be within your control you might be able to do something about.<\/p>\n<p>Currently, as it stands, I believe nine out of the 11 terminals are privately operated. What are some of the challenges that you currently are still facing, and how is the team looking to approach them?<\/p>\n<p><strong>OPHELIA SHABANE:<\/strong> If we had to sum it up, specifically when you look at maybe the most important season in the Port of Cape Town, which is really our deciduous season in the summer months, wind still comes at the top of our list.<\/p>\n<p>I think if you just look at the stats in September and November, I those two months ranked up over 330 hours lost per month owing to wind.<\/p>\n<div class=\"visible-sm-block visible-xs-block m1010\">\n<div class=\"ad-container-wrapper\">\n<p>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/p>\n<p>CONTINUE READING BELOW<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Read\/listen:<\/p>\n<div class=\"ApplePlainTextBody\" dir=\"auto\">Ports remain crucial to lifting SA\u2019s economic tide<\/div>\n<div class=\"ApplePlainTextBody\" dir=\"auto\">Cape Town wants Transnet action after \u2018world\u2019s worst container port\u2019 ranking<\/div>\n<p>So I think wind has been a really, a big challenge for the port, and that\u2019s why we\u2019ve partnered up with scientific institutions such as the CSIR which are doing really, really good work \u2013 specifically in developing an early predictive model for the Port of Cape Town, which is a system that is actually one of a kind in South Africa and has really assisted us in being able to plan our cargo, and actually even be able to know when we can expect really strong gusts of wind and be ready and better prepared for them. I think that has been the greatest.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>I think more than anything, some of the equipment challenges that we used to have in the past have been considerably addressed by Transnet.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And specifically when you look at our container terminal, we\u2019ve seen some great investments in equipment \u2013 like an equipment injection strategy, which has been very successful. That is seeing new equipment such as RPGs (rubber-tyred gantries) and haulers being procured for the ports.<\/p>\n<p>That has really assisted quite a lot in ensuring that the equipment is available to service the shipping lines as and when they call at the Port of Cape Town now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>JIMMY MOYAHA:<\/strong> Ophelia, can we look at what the strategic improvements then mean for the Port of Cape Town going forward? Obviously, reducing downtime is going to continue to be a priority, I\u2019d imagine, and improving operational efficiencies also becomes an avenue of building a bit of resilience within the port.<\/p>\n<p>If we are to look at the port sustainability and the port\u2019s efforts to expand and increase what it does for stakeholders, where do we go from here with these improvements and keep up the momentum?<\/p>\n<p><strong>OPHELIA SHABANE:<\/strong> That\u2019s a good question. I think even when you look at some of our key strategies, they are obviously to ensure that we allow for more private-partner participation in the port of Cape Town.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically as the TNPA, and specifically in the Port of Cape Town, among the key things that I think our stakeholders can really look forward to are two concessions that will soon be coming out, which means we\u2019re advertising and looking for requests for proposal for a multi-purpose terminal, which is quite strategic in the Port of Cape Town in terms of breakbulk, dry bulk as well as container handling facilities.<\/p>\n<p>Read:\u00a0Port of Cape Town secures FFS Tank Terminals for 25-year liquid bulk concession<\/p>\n<div class=\"visible-sm-block visible-xs-block m1010\">\n<div class=\"ad-container-wrapper\">\n<p>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/p>\n<p>CONTINUE READING BELOW<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>And I think more than anything we are also going to be going out looking for requests for proposal for a floating dock, because even the ship-repair activities are a very big part of what we do in Cape Town as a key economic driver and a job-creation space specifically for the Western Cape.<\/p>\n<p>So those are some of \u2026 the two areas.<\/p>\n<p>Most of it just speaks to us being very intentional, as well, about our operational performance and improvement plans \u2013 which have shown over the past years to be quite successful as we\u2019ve been able to grow volumes every year.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Whether it\u2019s containers, whether it\u2019s breakbulk and whether it\u2019s liquid bulk, I think we\u2019ve been able, year on year, to move more cargo over the quay.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>And most importantly, we\u2019ve also been able to reduce the long time that vessels spend [in the port], meaning that our terminal operators are becoming more efficient in what they\u2019re doing \u2013 obviously with a lot of assistance from TNPA, meaning that even from a vessel side we are today reducing marine services to their true minimum, and that we are always prioritising cargo vessels when they call at the Port of Cape Town.<\/p>\n<p><strong>JIMMY MOYAHA:<\/strong> Consistency and improvements where necessary \u2013 that is how we continue to move forward, especially in the port sector, where we know logistics are paramount to being able to contribute towards the economy.<\/p>\n<p>Read\/listen:<\/p>\n<div class=\"ApplePlainTextBody\" dir=\"auto\">SA\u2019s harbours are slowly recovering<\/div>\n<div class=\"ApplePlainTextBody\" dir=\"auto\">Transnet backlog costing fruit exporters billions<\/div>\n<p>We\u2019ll leave the conversation on that note. Acting port manager for the Port of Cape Town at Transnet Ports Authority, Ophelia Shabane, joined us to look at the improvements out of that port and where it is that that port is headed.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>#Operational #gains #boost #Cape #Town #ports #performance<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You can also listen to this podcast on iono.fm here. 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