Cape Town Container Terminal Starts Improving With Multiple Initiatives in Place

The Cape Town Container Terminal reached a high of 17 moves per hour during a single shift in the past week despite fluctuating productivity. A total of 2 388 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) were handled in a single day.

In addition to global Navis container management system experts assisting with making full use of existing equipment by enhancing systems on-site, a continuous improvement team has also been deployed to troubleshoot, return operations to acceptable levels, and sustain the momentum. The terminal now has four vessels at anchor and is handling an average of 1 345 trucks over 24 hours.

Acting Western Cape Region Managing Executive, Oscar Borchards, said the breakdowns on ship-to-shore cranes as well as rubber–tyred gantry cranes were a focal point, with original equipment manufacturers Liebherr, Kalmar and Kone Cranes focused on improving the fleet’s availability and reliability.

“All running initiatives will soon yield good results as the intention is not only to resolve the current challenge but, to ensure sustained improvement over an extended period,” said Borchards. He added that engagements with customers continued and that communication efforts with all key stakeholders, including employees, would be strengthened and maintained to foster a culture of transparency, collaboration and finding solutions together.

Operators of lifting equipment are still undergoing training on the recently acquired batch of rubber-tyred gantry cranes. Upon completion, the full availability of employees will complement the existing fleet and offer relief when demand increases.