THE SA Port Operations division, which operates the East London car terminal, has set new records for the turnaround time for loading vessels that transport newly manufactured motor vehicles to export destinations. Responding to reports from Parliament that the NPA might extend the size of the car terminal, National Port Authority (NPA) spokesman Terry Taylor said the East London operation had proved itself to be ideal for shipping companies servicing this route. "It allows the shipping companies to keep to schedules and even make up time." Taylor says loading rates of two vehicles a minute have been achieved at the terminal. There is a strong possibility that the four-floor car terminal would be extended to an eight-floor facility within the foreseeable future. "This is part of our long-term framework plan for the East London port." The facility has 2 800 parking bays, with the proposed extension enlarging it to a 7 000 parking bay facility. "We are on course to make the East London port the motor vehicle hub of the country." Taylor says the extension programme is also driven by the opportunities offered by the proposed industrial development zone (IDZ). An IDZ marketing promotion committee is dealing with this proposal. Taylor says the NPA is constantly in discussions with other motor manufacturers, especially those based in Gauteng, to attract them as additional tenants to the car terminal. "We believe we can provide good service and reduce transport costs to those manufacturers," he says. Rail and rod services that take DaimlerChrysler vehicles made in East London or imported through the harbour can be used to bring back vehicles from those Reef-based manufacturers. "The two-way cargo would enable manufacturers to negotiate better rates," The East London port is also well positioned for trans-shipment purposes, according to Taylor. "Currently ships from South America drop off newly manufactured vehicles, which are then picked up by other vessels en route to places like Australia." Vehicles from South America have been trans-shipped through the car terminal. "This has increased the traffic flow through the East London port. We obviously want to make full use of the terminal's capacity and then extend it to serve future traffic. But we also want to make sure that we plan ahead of demand. That is why we are also looking at extending the container terminal. Once the IDZ is up and running we want our facilities to be ready to accommodate the increased flow of port traffic," Taylor adds.