Our container terminals handled 10,177 TEUs on average per day, which is less than the 11,046 TEUs handled the previous week. The main factors affecting port operations were bad weather, empty berths, equipment failures, and shortages. This week’s unfavorable weather caused some operating challenges in Cape Town, while rainy conditions and equipment failures guaranteed operational delays in Durban. The main cause of delays in the Eastern Cape was an empty berth combined with large surf and strong winds, while bad weather caused delays for a number of ships in Richards Bay. An RFI for a pilot project to use cleaner fuels for its fleet of diesel-powered tugboats was released by TNPA this week. Additionally, the ConCor line was used for monthly maintenance operations on Monday from 6:00 to 18:00 at the beginning of the week. According to the most recent sources, there has not yet been any sign that the South Coast train line’s collapsed bridge will be renovated.
Key Notes:
- An average of ~10 177 TEUs was handled per day, with ~11 302 TEUs projected for next week.
- Rail cargo handled out of Durban was reported at 3 276 containers, up ↑1% from last week.
- Cross-border queue: ↓1,7 hrs; transit: ↓1,4 hrs; SA borders: 9,1 hrs (↓35%); SADC: 3,5 hrs (↓22%).
Port operations – General:
- In our container terminals, an average of 10 177 TEUs was handled per day, down from 11 046 TEUs last week.
- Port operations were mainly construed by inclement weather, vacant berths, equipment breakdowns and shortages.
- Adverse weather presented some operational difficulties in Cape Town this week, as equipment breakdowns and rainy weather ensured operational delays in Durban.
- A vacant berth accompanied by strong winds and high swells was the primary source of delays in the Eastern Cape, while several vessels were delayed in Richards Bay due to inclement weather.
- This week, TNPA issued an RFI for a pilot project to utilise greener fuels for its selected dieselpowered tugboat fleet.
- Additionally, at the start of the week, the ConCor line was occupied between 06:00 and 18:00 on Monday for monthly maintenance operations.
- The latest reports suggest that there has yet to be an indication about refurbishing the collapsed bridge on the South Coast rail line.
Read more:
Cargo Movement Report – Full Report
Cargo Movement Report – Summary Report