Quick fix for Beira corridor

A combination of sound design and construction practices and rapid response in the wake of Cyclone Idai has seen cargo move through the port of Beira within days of the natural disaster. “The port was well prepared in advance and thus has sustained only limited damages,” says spokesperson Rui Massuanganhe in a statement. “On the container terminal no full containers were damaged, as they were stacked low or in pyramid shape.

“The gantry cranes have withstood the storm well thanks to extensive tie down efforts,” he says. Beira’s single lift cranes needed repairs, with the twin lift cranes back in action after drying out. The port has its own power station, which has sufficient capacity to run all operations within the precinct. This includes the reefer plugs. It was installed because of relatively frequent power

blackouts due to weather and other disruptions. NAVIS was operational within days of the cyclone. There has, however, been extensive damage to the general cargo terminal warehouses which had their roofs blown off. They are expected to be out of service “for the next month at least,” says Massuanganhe. “Beira Port is open and the cross hauling of containers is physically possible to warehouses within Beira and vice versa,” confirms Christian Roeder, chief commercial officer of the J&J African transport group. He says the group’s Beira Logistics Terminal (BLT) and Independent Beira Logistics Terminal and Services (IBLT&S) were able

to move export containers into the port within a week of the storm, once the Single Electronic Window (Janela Unica) system had been reconnected and was operational. All the J&J operations

are self-sufficient, with their own solar panels and generators. The vital corridor link to the hinterland was due to be reopened within 15 days of the natural disaster. The port was well prepared in advance and thus has sustained only limited damages. – Rui Massuanganhe