Port delays costing millions
Chief blame factor in the expensive scenario is reported at present to be severe weather
AT a hiring rate of about $15 000 per day, the queue of over 50 ships presently lined up at the outer anchorage is collectively losing around R100-million daily.
This as they impatiently wait for berths to become free at the Port of Richards Bay.
Multiply that by a waiting time by anything from five to 14 days per vessel, and delays for the fleet anchored at sea are costing a billion.
Chief blame factor in the expensive scenario is reported at present to be severe weather – including a number of rough storms – that struck the eastern seaboard over the past month.
According to Port Captain Sabelo Mdlalose the logjam is a combination of two factors.
‘The adverse weather in the first fortnight of October saw the port experience a combination of high winds of above 45 knots, plus high swells of above seven metres.
‘The second factor is an increase in the number of vessel calling at the Port.’
However, local shipping company representatives said ‘port inefficiency’ must be added to weather-related port closures and resultant backlogs.
‘Even when there is no inclement weather, the levels of efficiency are notoriously bad – which could be said for most South African ports,’ said one shipping agent.
‘Globally, our country does not have a good reputation for productivity, which is why privatisation of quayside services is regularly being raised as an urgent issue in maritime circles.’
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