Fully laden container vessel forced to stand idle,
writes Ray Smuts
CUSTOMERS may well have understanding for their watchmaker or cobbler's lunchbreak, but such empathy is not shared by importers and other concerned parties who stood by in silent rage while a fully-laden container vessel recently lay idle for several hours - all because the designated Cape Town harbour pilot and crew were on lunch.
This is unheard of anywhere else in the world and an appalling way to treat visitors, was the comment to FTW by Peter Odendaal, chairman of the Association of Shipping Lines' Cape Town branch.
According to Odendaal, Safmarine's SA Sederberg arrived from Europe earlier this month but could not berth in the container terminal for two reasons; she was being blocked by the vessel City of Cape Town and the 'floating craft' (pilot boat) was not on hand to move both vessels due to the crew's lunchbreak - resulting in an overall delay of four hours.
They (Portnet) refused to render service in terms of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act (BCEA) as a non-lunchbreak would have amounted to an infringement, says Odendaal.
Complaints to Portnet drew a response from port captain Eddie Bremner, citing the aforementioned act's conditions which we already know - and an apology.
Asked to comment, Ronnie Kingwill, Portnet's general manager : containers, said the incident had been brought to his attention but added: I am waiting for proof that the vessel was delayed for four hours.
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