Government
monopolies,
red tape and
technology and
infrastructure deficits
are stif ling growth and
development at southern
Africa’s ports, according to
industry sources.
“Having to deal with any
government monopoly – no
matter where in the world –
is always a daunting task as
high levels of bureaucracy
coupled with the lack of
direct accountability make
productivity improvement
an almost impossible
task,” said Peter Besnard,
CEO of the South African
Association of Ship
Operators and Agents
(Saasoa).
He told FTW that the
general consensus amongst
Transnet customers was
that productivity would lag
indefinitely and that SA
ports would never achieve
world-class levels as there
was no competition and
therefore no incentive to
raise service levels.
A shipping coordinator
for African ports in Cape
Town said on condition
of anonymity: “In most
African ports, the logistics
operations are uniquely
geared to working around
constraints that do not
exist in ports in developed
countries.”
She said other ports
around the world — in
Asia, Europe, America —
had automated systems,
developed infrastructure,
government support and
trade agreements that
were upheld.”
She added that while
there had been major
improvements at some
regional ports in recent
years, there was still a huge
impact on the total cost
of operating a network of
vessels at almost any port
on the continent.
A logistics operator in
Durban told FTW that he
was often frustrated at the
“shocking lack of literacy”
by port officials. “Transnet
Ports Authority (TNPA)
invoices are full of errors
and HAZ applications are
a slow and very painful
process,” he commented.
He said there was also
so much red tape at the
region’s ports due to
innumerable regulations
and restrictions that
added to the cost of doing
business.
Besnard’s solution is
simple: in any organisation
there has to be sound
leadership in order to make
things happen. “We need
people who lead from the
front and are not afraid
to roll up their sleeves, no
matter what their position
is, and involve themselves
with their staff when the
going gets tough.”
Instead, he said, meeting
after meeting prevents
this as managers are
deprived of adopting the
kind of hands-on approach
necessary. “When staff
vacate the premises
and abscond without
permission there is a
serious discipline problem
that is sure to affect
any productivity-driven
organisation,” he said.
Furthermore, berthing
delays, congestion at the
gates and a serious lack
of stacking speeds at SA’s
ports need to be addressed.
“Vessels idle at anchorage
do not generate money,”
said Besnard.
INSERT & CAPTION
Having to deal with
any government
monopoly — no
matter where in the
world — is always a
daunting task.
– Peter Besnard
CAPTION
The Port of Durban... does no competition mean no incentive to raise service levels?
