NCT also enjoyed growth in container volumes. January 2011 saw the terminal handle 30,879 TEU of which 4,930 was imports, 6,934 exports while 18,985 was transshipment cargo destined for other regional ports. The terminal’s previous highest GCH was achieved in December 2009, just two months after opening, when operators topped 25 GCH handling container volumes of 4,748 TEU.
TPT’s Eastern Cape terminal executive manager Siya Mhlaluka said NCT’s GCH performance had been made possible by teamwork, additional staff and improvements in vessel and yard planning. “It is pleasing to witness that as volumes grow the performance of our operations teams also improves. We want to offer a consistently excellent service to all our clients, by ensuring quick turnaround of vessels. Already these great improvements are the result of teamwork and integrated planning systems among all key role players to enable an efficient service offering”, he said.
The terminal has employed 376 operational staff who are split over three shifts. This excludes support services staff. Ship-to-shore crane operator Hyron Fernando Langeveldt, who has been at the terminal since inception said, “There is a renewed sense of enthusiasm. Our morale has been boosted because we do not want to be associated with low performance. There is healthy competitive spirit amongst the three shifts which instils in us the drive to achieve and exceed targets.” He added there was good cooperation from the various departments such as the planning teams who were willing to implement operational changes and the stevedores who worked to minimise delays to vessels.
Other operators pointed to systems and technology for the improvements. Rubber tyred gantry crane operator Ntombekhaya Makana-Twaku attributed the performance to the terminal’s new Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) which automatically updates the exact location of containers in the terminal while operators move them from point to point. Previously this was done manually. Mhlaluka said NCT was built as a flagship terminal and TPT would use it as a benchmark where possible to improve performance at other port terminals around the country.