Newsroom
Search:
News Article - Automotive
Boost for EL Port as new equipment arrives
Posted on: Monday, 30 July 2007. Article source: Eastern Cape Business News
By Roux Van Zyl
Business Editor
A precious cargo of eight straddle carriers arrived in East London yesterday to help boost the port’s productivity levels.
The straddle carriers, which are used to stack containers, will replace the port’s aging fleet of seven carriers before DaimlerChrysler’s C-Class export contract kicks off in December.
SA Port Operation (Sapo) business unit executive, Pieter Klinkradt, said although the carriers were previously used at Cape Town harbour; there were still fairly new.
“They haven’t served 50% of their lifespan yet. If you look at the existing machines it’s like comparing chalk and cheese. The machines have got newer generation technology,” he said.
“Our straddle carriers needed to be replaced, because it was getting close to retirement age. The last thing we want is to have a negative impact on exports. The new machines will ensure that we have minimum downtime,” he said.
Klinkradt said that the port also recently completed a multi-million-rand project to resurface almost half of its container stacking area.
DaimlerChrysler officially started manufacturing the new C-Class that will be exported to the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and other Pacific Rim countries.
The C-Class will, for the first time, be exported to the US from South Africa.
Approximately 25% of vehicles produced in East London are destined for the South African market, while the remaining 75 % are exported.
National Port Authority spokesperson Terry Taylor said the best way in which the East London harbour could market itself was through constantly improving its serve levels.
“We are constantly looking at ways to improve our productivity and that is what gives us a good name among the shipping agents. We are not a busy port, but those who arrive have a fast turn-around time,” he said.
The carries arrived from East London in the hold of semi-submersible heavy list vessel; the Black Rhino lifted the straddle carriers using its two 200-ton mast cranes before preparing to leave for Durban.
In 2005, Sapo embarked on a R987 million expenditure drive to provide “world-class services” at the country’s key harbours.
As part of the plan, 53 brand new straddle carriers were commissioned from Finland, of which 16 carriers were allocated to Durban, 11 to the Port Elizabeth container terminal and 26 to Cape Town.
In February last year, the Port Elizabeth harbour took delivery of its brand new straddle carries worth R57m.
Business Editor
A precious cargo of eight straddle carriers arrived in East London yesterday to help boost the port’s productivity levels.
The straddle carriers, which are used to stack containers, will replace the port’s aging fleet of seven carriers before DaimlerChrysler’s C-Class export contract kicks off in December.
SA Port Operation (Sapo) business unit executive, Pieter Klinkradt, said although the carriers were previously used at Cape Town harbour; there were still fairly new.
“They haven’t served 50% of their lifespan yet. If you look at the existing machines it’s like comparing chalk and cheese. The machines have got newer generation technology,” he said.
“Our straddle carriers needed to be replaced, because it was getting close to retirement age. The last thing we want is to have a negative impact on exports. The new machines will ensure that we have minimum downtime,” he said.
Klinkradt said that the port also recently completed a multi-million-rand project to resurface almost half of its container stacking area.
DaimlerChrysler officially started manufacturing the new C-Class that will be exported to the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and other Pacific Rim countries.
The C-Class will, for the first time, be exported to the US from South Africa.
Approximately 25% of vehicles produced in East London are destined for the South African market, while the remaining 75 % are exported.
National Port Authority spokesperson Terry Taylor said the best way in which the East London harbour could market itself was through constantly improving its serve levels.
“We are constantly looking at ways to improve our productivity and that is what gives us a good name among the shipping agents. We are not a busy port, but those who arrive have a fast turn-around time,” he said.
The carries arrived from East London in the hold of semi-submersible heavy list vessel; the Black Rhino lifted the straddle carriers using its two 200-ton mast cranes before preparing to leave for Durban.
In 2005, Sapo embarked on a R987 million expenditure drive to provide “world-class services” at the country’s key harbours.
As part of the plan, 53 brand new straddle carriers were commissioned from Finland, of which 16 carriers were allocated to Durban, 11 to the Port Elizabeth container terminal and 26 to Cape Town.
In February last year, the Port Elizabeth harbour took delivery of its brand new straddle carries worth R57m.
Article Tags: No tags defined
Podcast
ECDC Xhosa Radio Ad
