State-owned Transnet Port Terminals has said the introduction of the adjusted free import storage rule seven months ago at the Durban Container Terminal has resulted in significant improvements in key metrics, as recorded at the end of the 2022/23 financial year on March 31.
Truck turnaround time improved by 15% at an average of 59 minutes, while truck staging decreased by 24%, averaging 76 minutes, and stack occupancy levels decreased by 18%, averaging 54%.
“For an operation of our size, yard fluidity is crucial. It’s improvement eases traffic on public roads and also creates fluidity in the operational area,” Durban Terminal managing executive Earle Peters said.
He added that the counting of the 78 hours of free storage the moment a container was discharged from the vessel has yielded numerous benefits and eliminated time wastage, compared with before, when the 78 hours would only be counted after all containers on a vessel had been offloaded.
He said the ability for transporters to receive notifications in real time from the terminal operating system Navis also ensured effectiveness.
To sustain current operational efficiencies, the Durban Container Terminal focused on managing truck movements, employing mass evacuation strategies in the yard, better managing the truck staging area and maximising the effective use of straddle carriers.
“These achievements are a testament to the terminal’s commitment to continuous improvement and its focus on providing the best possible service to our customers. We remain dedicated to finding innovative ways to further enhance our operations through ongoing collaboration with transporter associations and industry stakeholders,” Peters said.