South African port operator Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) said it is looking into leasing equipment to improve productivity at the Port of Durban's Container Terminal Pier 2 (DCT Pier 2). TPT has been struggling to acquire critical spare parts to repair its ageing equipment, resulting in an ongoing shortage.
The operator said it would look into leasing straddle carriers and ship-to-shore cranes, including second-hand equipment, to cover the 12-month period before the delivery of a new fleet. The terminal is due to receive four ship-to-shore cranes, 35 straddle carriers and 63 hauliers.
DCT Pier 2 is an important gateway to the region and South Africa, handling 72% of the Port of Durban’s throughput and 46% of South Africa’s port traffic.
In July, Transnet announced a joint venture with Philippines-based International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) to manage the operations at the port for 25 years. The new company is expected to take operational control by 1 April 2024. The move to privatise is aimed at addressing the operational inefficiencies, outdated equipment and congestion which has hurt the port's reputation.
However, Durban is not the only port struggling with failed equipment. According to the Transporter Congestion Report commissioned by the Western Cape Government’s Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), the largest contributing factor to congestion in Cape Town is the shortage of operable cranes, specifically rubber-tyred gantry cranes (RTGs).
"The single biggest constraint of the supply chain is the status of the RTGs and other operating equipment. Only 4 of the 23 RTGs are fully operational," stated the report. "A number of RTGs are standing out of service waiting for spare parts."
As a long-term solution, TPT said it has issued a tender for the supply of spares across all its terminals by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) over a seven-year period. Bidding will close at the end of September, and awards will be announced in October 2023, announced TPT.
Kuehne+Nagel data shows that waiting times at the ports have been fluctuating over the last months, reportedly due to congestion, equipment unavailability and weather-related delays.
