He represents the Western Cape Government at the weekly operational meetings between all parties involved, such as various Transnet operating divisions, government and the private sector, including shipping lines. This could contribute to more efficient planning of container loading and discharging, as well as to mitigation measures against the risk of wind at Cape Town Container Terminal.” Scientific analysis of weather patterns will also be done to formulate predictive models. Mr Steyn says: “There is recognition of the need for urgent interventions to facilitate cargo flows through the port. The increase in citrus exports expected over the coming years concentrates the mind on this matter. Mr Gale believes there are definitely solutions to the problem of wind at Cape Town, and Glen Steyn from the Western Cape Department of Economic Development and Tourism and convenor of the port task team agrees. South African retailers are having to wait two or three week longer for stock coming from the Far East as vessels skip Cape Town.Ĭape Town Container Terminal (Copyright: Chris Troch Ι )Ĭalculating the probability of windbound periods And then we’re also in the middle of the fruit season – it’s a triple whammy, but there are congestion problems at many ports around the world at the moment.”
#WINDBOUND COST PLUS#
In Cape Town it has been exacerbated by the fact that the wind has been very bad this season, plus there’s the gradual re-opening of the economy as we move to level 1 of the Covid lockdown and factories are re-opening after the festive season. “International trade is a major problem globally. “It’s a major nightmare,” Mr Gale says, but it’s not only Cape Town’s nightmare, he emphasises.
No import cargo means no empty containers coming into the harbour. High winds accompanied this week's rain over the southwestern Cape, reducing waterside productivity, but today the wind has abated.Ī satellite photo showing the weather that yesterday brought rain (over 100mm in some parts) to the Cape (copyright EUMETSAT)
#WINDBOUND COST WINDOWS#
As a result vessels were on average delayed by eight days and many shipping lines are bypassing Cape Town in order to keep to their windows at the subsequent ports to the east or to the north. On late afternoon Wednesday 24 February winds of up to 90km per hour forced a closure of the container terminal, lasting for more than two days until its re-opening the following Saturday. When not wind-bound, the port of Cape Town can move 16,000 containers per week, but unfortunately the southeaster wind has been “exceptionally bad” at times this season, notes Terry Gale, chairperson of the Western Cape Exporters’ Club, which represents many in the fruit export industry (fresh produce is the majority of cargo exported from Cape Town).
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