Dear Valued Client
Durban port and more specifically Pier 2 terminal, is currently facing severe congestion. We attach the current updates from Transnet confirming limited appointment slots available for transporters to uplift containers at present and the ongoing challenge with equipment breakdowns affecting overall port operations.
The below meeting notes from Harbour Carriers confirms the current situation:
‘At this morning’s operations meeting the dire situation at DCT landside was raised. It is very clear that the 47 straddles operating this morning along with the balance of 41 are way past their usable life and require constant down time as various failures materialise.
This morning there are 3807 import containers in the yard. At the 9.30 review, 10 slots per hour were released at tower 109, none at the busiest towers 202 and 205. This is apart from slots booked on the forward releases. Yesterday average TTT for these towers, staging and queue was 14 hours.
At 6 this morning there were 350 trucks in the staging and queue. It is difficult to see a situation going forward in the short term that productivity at DCT will improve. I have asked that the available “free” import storage time of 3.25 days be reviewed whilst it is clear the terminal cannot operate in such a way that this deadline can be consistently met. There is now a need for TPT to make clear to all port users and cargo owners what the situation is at DCT, that it will not improve before the majority of the new equipment is commissioned in 2025 and that storage charges due to this will not be raised whilst also addressing the demurrage situation with carriers.’ Dave Watts
Should you have any queries, please reach out to our Durban Office on 0318180320.