Authorities at Transnet have initiated measures to enhance operations at South African ports following wind-related disruptions affecting fruit exports in February. Oscar Borchards, Transnet's acting managing executive for terminals in the province, announced a recovery plan, including acquiring equipment capable of functioning at higher wind speeds. Wind disruptions led to vessel loading delays and cargo handling issues, with over 200 operational hours lost due to wind speeds reaching up to 125 km/h.
Cape Town mayco member for Economic Growth, James Vos, highlighted the necessity for private investment to tackle these challenges. "Last month, operations at the Port of Cape Town came to a grinding halt due to wind. But is the wind really to blame? Cities around the world experience similar weather, yet their ports keep operating because they invest in the right technology, equipment, and skilled manpower," said Vos.
Research by the City of Cape Town suggests private investment could inject approximately US$315 million into the industry, create around 20,000 jobs, and generate about US$84 million in tax revenue over five years. Vos added, "We need to strengthen the port's resilience and efficiency."
Meanwhile, the Citrus Growers Association of Southern Africa (CGA) emphasized the industry's growth potential during the 5th Citrus Summit in Gqeberha. Incoming CEO Boitshoko Ntshabele stated that increasing market access is crucial, with projections indicating the sector could create 100,000 jobs by 2032 and expand exports from 95 million 15kg cartons to 260 million cartons.
Eric Imbert of France's CIRAD research center noted that South Africa's citrus industry is well-positioned to face global trade challenges, with a diversified market, strong industry structure, and a rapidly evolving variety portfolio.
However, disruptions at the Port of Cape Town continue to affect shipping schedules. The Cape Independent reported that Maersk alerted clients to delays of 8–10 days. The 7,098-TEU vessel One Responsibility will bypass Cape Town, heading directly to Durban. Meanwhile, One Resolution remains anchored off Cape Town, with Santa Isabel waiting since March 6 and Santa Clara en route from Durban, adding to the backlog.
Vessel tracking data shows that ships on Maersk and CMA CGM's India-Middle East-Africa Mesawa service, such as the Maersk Iyo, have been rerouted to Ngqura to maintain schedules. Export bookings from Cape Town are being shifted to the Maersk Cubango, while import containers from Ngqura are being redirected.
The South African Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) identified wind, dredging, equipment failures, and resource shortages as major constraints. Between 3 and 9 March, the port handled 18,195 TEUs, but throughput is expected to decline 19% to 14,793 TEUs the following week.
Transnet has faced criticism for underinvestment in logistics infrastructure. The World Bank's Container Port Performance Index previously ranked Cape Town among the world's worst-performing ports, though stakeholders argue the comparisons are flawed.
Source: IOL
Source: freight news