Will the massive volume of
maize imports expected this
year lead to a complete logistics
disaster, as much of the private
sector freight industry fears,
or will it be plain sailing, as
Transnet predicts?
Certainly, if the total maize
required is the six million
tonnes figure that has been
doing the rounds, and most of
it enters SA through Durban
(which most freight experts
still expect), then the pressures
on the port’s grain handling
facilities and outbound
transport links will be pretty
high.
Mitchell Brooke, logistics
development manager of the
Citrus Growers’ Association
(CGA), was the first to express
his worry to FTW about maize
imports potentially blocking
the port.
He questioned whether the
vessels discharging via the
bulk terminals in Maydon
Wharf and Island View would
mean these areas being heavily
congested with trucks. A
problem impacting access
to the other port facilities –
particularly Durban Container
Terminal (DCT).
This question was also on the
mind of Sue Moodley, MD of
Transport.com and chairman
of the Durban Harbour
Carriers' Association (DHCA).
“The maize imports will impact
on the bulk terminals as there is
no space for the current volume
of trucks to stage whilst they
wait. So, should these maize
imports materialise, Maydon
Wharf would most certainly
struggle with the trucks,
and see heavy congestion
overflowing on to the port
access roads.”
But Mboniso Sigonyela,
spokesman for Transnet, told
FTW the whole 6m tonnes
of maize imports would not
exclusively flow through
Durban.
“Transnet has grainhandling
facilities at the
ports of Durban, Cape Town,
Port Elizabeth and East
London,” he added. “We
have also recently started
utilising capacity at the Port of
Richards Bay. In addition, we
are able to convert some of our
facilities, traditionally utilised
for export, to accommodate
an anticipated increase in
import volumes.
“Including private sector
operators, we can handle
between 5m-6m tonnes
through our port system.”
Sigonyela also pointed out
that Transnet was confident
that the bulk of the imports
would be on rail.
And Mike Asefovitz,
senior manager for external
communications and corporate
affairs at Transnet Freight Rail
(TFR), is confident that rail is
ready to meet the challenge.
“On the issue of capacity,
Transnet has the necessary
capacity to transport maize
imports without it impacting
on other traffic,” he told FTW.
And there is no reason why
the Capespan subsidiary, FPT,
should not be able handle in
excess of 1.5 million tonnes of
the planned imports during
the May 1, 2016 to April 30,
2017 period, according to
Dr Dawie Ferreira, CEO of
Capespan Logistics Division.
“Based on discussions
with our customers we are
planning to handle about
700 000-750 000t through
Cape Town this coming
season,” he told FTW.
And in Durban the
Transnet National Ports
Authority (TNPA) has given
permission for the company
to lighten vessels by 5 000-
8 000t at the FPT berths
on the Point. This before
proceeding to the agri bulk
terminal at Maydon Wharf –
which is only deep enough to
handle the average
35 000-45 000t grain
vessels part-laden.
“But we have approached
TNPA for an agri-bulk
terminal extension to
our lease to allow us to
handle full vessels, backed
by the demand from our
customers,” he said.
CAPTION
Maize imports at the Port of Cape Town last week. Photo: Halden Krog
Reassurance over maize import logistics
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