Port management agency Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says the stack occupancy at the Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 has been reduced from 75% to 55% over the past eight months owing to the new free import storage rule, which notifies customers immediately when their container is offloaded.
TPT's ongoing efforts to reduce vessel stay have also increased its landside capacity for the empty containers yard by more than four times, said TPT Durban Terminals managing executive Earle Peters.
“This follows the terminal introducing changes to the free import storage rule eight months ago to ensure that all arriving import containers were collected immediately after offloading and stacking. The new rule was an enhancement on the historical process that required a vessel to fully complete the entire offloading before customers were notified to collect,” he explained.
The benefits of the new rule include a fluid yard that is able to accommodate more equipment to make the operation efficient.
“The terminal has, in this period, observed improved truck turnaround time, ship working hour, stack occupancy and also met all its contractual agreements with customers,” Peters added.
Prior to the new rule, Durban Container Terminal Pier 2 made use of a straddle carrier to receive empty containers, and these containers could only be stacked two-high.
“With more space freed up, the terminal was then able to use empty container handlers, which can stack containers six-high. Also, with the injection of haulers, access to the vessel is direct. We have created additional capacity and maximised the capacity created,” said Peters.
“The innovative thinking from the team was yielding results that would set the terminal up well in the short- to long-term operationally,” he noted.