Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has increased the number of cranes and employees deployed at the Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) to mitigate the decline in productivity caused by windy weather.
TPT said in a statement on Wednesday that windy conditions over the past fortnight have affected the terminal, which has lost more than 200 operational hours, resulting in 12 vessels waiting at anchor.
During this period, wind speeds have been recorded between 100 km/h and 120 km/h, well beyond the 80 km/h threshold for safe cargo handling.
TPT stated that the terminal has boosted its operational capacity by deploying eight cranes and eight operational teams per shift, up from seven each.
“Weather affects our operations often, and we have resourced ourselves to be able to recover within acceptable times when it clears,” said TPT Western Cape Region managing executive, Oscar Borchards.
Borchards added that the terminal handled 5% more volume in January compared to January 2024, despite experiencing some weather-related challenges.
“We are not fully capacitated to work a standard eight-gang shift. However, we have had to bring in employees who are currently off duty to clear the backlog,” Borchards said.
“Some have been called from leave, and all internal meetings have been cancelled to ensure everyone is on the ground.”
The technical team and the original equipment manufacturers, contracted to the terminal for the next six years, are on standby to address any equipment breakdowns that may arise when operations resume.
Borchards said that the terminal’s management is tracking progress on an hourly basis.
The terminal is at the peak of its deciduous fruit season, which runs from November to March.
