Cape Town exporters have applauded the concession by the Port of Cape Town to extend stack dates in the face of dwindling port calls. The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) is blaming congestion in the Port of Durban for fewer ships and a drop in volumes. Only 39 vessels called at the terminal in November compared to the near 50 handled during the same period last year. According to a spokesman for the port, vessels are increasingly bypassing the port or changing schedules depending on the amount of time spent in congested Durban. “We are not expecting to see much of an improvement in Durban for some time – with some estimating it will only improve near March next year,” Mike Walwyn, chairman of the Cape’s Port Liaison Forum, told FTW. Terry Gale, chairman of the Exporters’ Club Western Cape, commended the terminal for extending stack dates and allowing exporters to get their containers into the port amidst all the schedule uncertainty.
