Lines welcome revised Maydon Wharf contingencies

The FTW research for our coverage of the Maydon Wharf (MW) refurbishment issue has revealed that, in the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), right and left hands are ignorant of each other’s movements.
For the story in last week’s issue (See: “Industry complains of inadequate contingency planning”) we approached Zola Nkowane, TNPA’s senior operations manager for Maydon Wharf, to get her answers to these complaints.
She more than obligingly promised us a response as quickly as possible (an unusual assurance in Transnet terms). But she did warn us that “procedures” would likely cause it to miss that week’s deadline.
But only just over a day later, we received a communication, the contents of which showed just how far apart those right and left hands were.
Nkowane had addressed the refurbishment dates which had raised such ire amongst Maydon Wharf users. But somehow, during those press response “procedures”, someone else in TNPA had totally altered all the dates.
Now, according to our source, these revised dates were the answer to the Maydon Wharf users’ prayers. But, at the same time, they showed just how much of a monumental mess-up Transnet can, and regularly does, make of its press relations.
“The new plan seemed to go down well with the industry, as it gives a little breathing space,” the contact told FTW. “The change now in black and white is that they are going to complete Berths 108-109 and the stacking area on Pier 1, then shift to Maydon Wharf.”
The work on Berths 108 & 109 starts on February 17 and is due to be completed by June 30. This will then reopen these two berths to the container vessels - some of which been using the likes of Maydon Wharf for container loading.
Also, TNPA has other plans to supplement the MW Berths during the construction period. Again on Pier 1 (New Pier), berth 100 will be utilised for fishing vessels, and 101–103 for commercial activity for “clean cargo”.
But FTW was warned by Kevin Martin, chairman of the Durban Harbour Carriers Association (DHCA), there will be anything but an easy flow of the breakbulk freight vehicles on the New Pier.
This area, he said, was being used by the contractors working on the harbour as a storage area, and the flow of construction vehicles was certainly smooth.
“But,” Martin added, “it was easy enough for the gate guards to recognise the construction vehicles and wave them through. But when it comes to freight vehicles, they will have to stop and go through the usual checks.
“And, with the number of breakbulk trucks you can expect, that is likely to be anything but a smooth flow. It will just add to congestion that already occurs quite a lot at Pier 1, and to the usual congestion on the Bayhead Road.”
The TNPA also recognises the challenge of access through the container terminal, and its potential traffic flow constraints, Bayhead congestion and limited operational space.
In an attempt to mitigate these problems, the TNPA, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) and affected terminal operators are to draw up a standard operating procedure (SOP), said to “ensure free-flowing traffic and minimum disruptions to other port activities”. Traffic management plans will also be amended by the terminals to align to the TNPA traffic management plan.
TNPA also promises to heed the views of port users should any problems arise with the assurance it will “review and align specific proposals from engagement sessions”.
The refurbishment of Berths 1&2 and 13&14 on Maydon Wharf will now only start on June 30, after 108/109 are finished. The date of completion for 1&2 is projected as November 9, 2015; and for 13&14 it’s January 19, 2016.
The projected starting date for Berths 3&4 is November 10, 2015 – just one day after the expected completion of Berths 1&2. But, Nkowane assured FTW, 3&4 won’t be decommissioned until 1&2 are back on-line – so there’s no fear of all six berths being down at the same time.
The TNPA is confident that, on completion of the project, the berths will offer a safe operating environment with minimal infrastructure failure risk. The berths will have a high load-carrying capacity; there will be an increase in the use of mobile cranes in the precinct; and this is expected to result in improved cargo-handling efficiencies.
Also, the deepening of the berths will change the design depth for Berths 1-2 and 13-14 from their present 9.9 metres to them being able to handle 13m draft vessels.
The refurbishment work then moves on to the Durban container terminal (DCT) on Pier 2.
Berth 205 is to be refurbished, starting on October 2, 2015 and being completed on May 4, 2017. Berth 204 follows, with its programme timed for June 3, 2016 to December 7, 2016. Last in line is Berth 203, with a July 3, 2018 start-off date and completion on April 27, 2020.