DURING the record citrus export season, Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) Nelson Mandela Bay ports have successfully complemented the Port of Cape Town, which was negatively affected by COVID-19.
Apart from handling the fruit at the Port of PE’s break-bulk facilities, the two Eastern Cape ports’ container terminals estimate handling more than 460 000 pallets by the end of the fruit season, despite the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
TNPA new business development manager, Sujit Bhagattjee, together with Marine Operations and the Harbour Master, spearheaded a request from the shipping lines for fruit to be handled at the port’s multi-purpose terminal.
This resulted in the Perishable Products Exports Control Board (PPECB) giving their stamp of approval and the port was able to accommodate an increased number of vessels.
According to Bhagattjee, the Port of PE had additionally seen the resurgence of palletised fruit, mainly at the multi-purpose terminal, due to a global shortage of reefer containers and some of the receiving ports in the world using older technology.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic and citrus export season, the Port Elizabeth Container Terminal has once again proven its strategic importance to the complementary South African container terminal system in supporting the South African economy.
“Our COVID-19 compliance and available capacity played a major role in our success. The port firstly addressed the impact of the virus by introducing standard operating procedures, granting clearance on a per shipment basis.
“The port had to ensure that the shipping lines, vessel agents and terminal operators were fully compliant in terms of the COVID-19 protocols. This effort has ensured that the Port of PE has not turned away any vessel to date,” Bhagattjee said.
“We also focused on the importance of sound infrastructure, equipment and human capital. These include power and additional plug points in the container terminal, the capacity of the two new mobile cranes and the health and safety of our people.
“TNPA and its terminal operators continued to comply with all standard COVID-19 preventative measures as guided by the Department of Health,” he added.
The fruit season is expected to end later this month, with the possibility of an extension, due to demand from European markets.
