Steps taken to avoid pilferage at Durban terminal IT'S STATUS QUO for depot operators in Durban harbour at present, while Portnet and private hauliers await the former's appeal against the recent judgement allowing certain hauliers to operate in the harbour itself.
But we are monitoring the situation all the time. We cannot allow Portnet's service standards to slip, says Cargo Management Centre manager Paul Wolfaardt.
Although we are not a Portnet client we rely on them for service and it is imperative that whatever happens these days, their service must be maintained at as high a level as possible.
We have been told that rebates will apply as in the past, but what Portnet is seeking is an agreement that we give them preferential treatment and that is something we cannot do.
We asked them at a recent meeting if there had been any survey undertaken to show whether they would suffer as a result of lost business in any changes, but their answer was merely that they had previously operated under the exclusivity of the minority government and no such surveys were needed at the time. There is, however, little movement from the private sector at present regardless of the opening offered by the judgement, says Lawrie Bateman, m d of Container Logistics.
Things really haven't changed much. We have made arrangements to carry on with Portnet as in the past, he says.
Bateman's company, however, is taking a firm view of tightening up security where possible.
We haven't experienced a great deal of pilferage recently, but what we are doing as from August 1 is to have a liaison officer situated in the harbour operating between our main principals, Mediterranean Shipping Company, and the cartage points for tighter control. In the harbour itself the situation has seen little change.
There's been little additional to the norm, says Deidre de Klerk, MSC's terminal kiosk manager.
The terminal was in a bit of chaos prior to the judgement. But as a result of the gates being opened, there has not been any significant difference to the level of pilfering or chaos. From our point, matters are pretty much under control.
What we are all waiting for now is the judge's decision on whether to grant leave of appeal or not to Portnet. Then we will face up to the new situation. By Leonard Neill
