The Richards Bay Multipurpose Terminal (MPT) has taken delivery of new cargo-handling equipment for the loading of export coal, magnetite, chrome, and pig iron aboard calling Capesize vessels.
The terminal announced on Tuesday that it had leased 75 dumpers and 35 payloaders for 12 months, as a temporary measure, after its tender award for the supply of equipment was challenged in court by an unsuccessful bidder last year.
Before the arrival of the equipment, the terminal had made use of customer-supplied equipment and resources as part of a collaborative effort to ensure continuity amid the challenges of the previously out-sourced service.
“We have experienced true collaboration between ourselves and our customers over the past 15 months where we all put the economy before our challenges,” said Thula Dlamini, Richards Bay Terminals managing executive.
He said more than six million tons of coal that would otherwise not have left South Africa due to the country’s rail challenges had been exported thanks to the terminal’s dedicated employees and the use of customer-supplied equipment.
Dlamini said the terminal had already started training and certifying more than 200 drivers to be able to operate the high-tech leased equipment. The terminal is also supplying its own diesel-hosed tanks, which are consistently replenished.
“It is our intention to improve our service to our valued customers, reduce vessel turnaround times and ramp-up volumes.”
