State-owned Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) says the Cape Town Container Terminal reached a high of 17 moves an hour during a single shift in the past week despite fluctuating productivity, and 2 388 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were handled in a single day.
In addition to global Navis container management system experts helping it make full use of existing equipment by enhancing systems on site, a continuous improvement team has also been deployed to troubleshoot, return operations to acceptable levels and sustain the momentum, TPT says.
The terminal now has four vessels at anchor and is handling an average of 1 345 trucks over 24 hours, it adds.
The breakdowns of ship-to-shore and rubber-tyred gantry cranes were a focal point, with original-equipment manufacturers Liebherr, Kalmar and Kone Cranes focused on improving the fleet’s availability and reliability, TPT acting Western Cape region managing executive Oscar Borchards says.
“All running initiatives will soon yield good results as the intention is not only to resolve the current challenge, but also to ensure sustained improvement over an extended period.
“Engagements with customers have also continued, and communication efforts with all key stakeholders, including employees, will be strengthened and maintained to foster a culture of transparency, collaboration and finding solutions together,” he adds.
Further, operators of lifting equipment are still undergoing training on the recently acquired batch of rubber-tyred gantry cranes. Once completed, the full availability of employees will complement the existing fleet and offer relief when demand increases.