Transnet planning urgent steps to ease backlogs

Transnet says it is implementing a number of urgent interventions to address the backlogs at the Port of Durban and to ease the congestion at Richards Bay.

According to Transnet, the backlog is being caused by factors including weather conditions and equipment availability.

Transnet board chair Andile Sangqu said: “The problem of port congestion is a complex one and it is something that was due to happen at some point, as a result of many years of underinvestment in equipment and its maintenance.

“We are working on a number of measures to turn the situation around. We need to caution that this is going to take some time as the lead times for some of the equipment is anything from 12 to 18 months. The team is working around the clock to procure this important equipment, to ensure our port facilities are in line with global best practice.

“At pier two, the plan is to ramp up the tempo from 2,500-4,000 containers a day over the next three months. Under normal conditions, the container handling tempo at pier two is 3,300 containers a day.

“At pier one, the tempo will increase from 1,200 to 1,500 containers a day.

“Initiatives on the cards to ensure that the recovery plan to clear the backlog succeeds include the acquisition of 16 rubber-tyred gantry cranes for pier one by the second half of 2025 and acquisition of four ship-to-shore cranes for South Quay for pier two in 2025/26.

“Work is also underway to refurbish and maintain critical port equipment to improve asset utilisation at pier one and two, and this will be completed by August 2024,” Transnet said.

The company’s acting CEO Michelle Phillips said management at the port terminals were “working around the clock with industrial engineers from the task team to maximise berth performance”.

“With all these initiatives in place, we expect it will take a maximum of seven weeks to clear the backlog at pier one and 15 weeks for pier two. This will make a significant difference to the flow of container traffic through the port.

An emergency meeting with stakeholders is being planned to find solutions to road congestion at the Port of Richard’s Bay.