TRANSNET Port Terminals (TPT) has hailed the introduction of the adjusted free import storage rule seven months ago at the Durban Container Terminals as the cause of significant improvements in key metrics as recorded at the end of the 2022/2023 financial year in March.

TPT reports that truck turnaround time improved by 15% averaging 59 minutes. Truck staging decreased by 24% averaging 76 minutes and stack occupancy levels decreased by 18% averaging 54%.

According to Durban Terminals managing executive, Earle Peters, “For an operation of our size, yard fluidity is crucial. Its improvement eases traffic on public roads and also creates fluidity in the operational area”. He added that the counting of the 78 hours of free storage the moment a container was discharged from the vessel has yielded a lot of benefits and eliminated time wastage compared to the previous counting protocol. The timer for the free 78 hours was previously only started after all containers on a vessel had been offloaded. The ability for transporters to receive notifications in real-time from the terminal operating system Navis also has improved efficiency, according to TPT.

TPT says that to sustain current operational efficiencies, the Durban Container Terminals are focused on managing truck movements, employing mass evacuation strategies in the yard, better managing the truck staging area and maximising the use of straddle carriers.

“These achievements are a testament to the terminal’s commitment to continuous improvement and its focus on providing the best possible service to our customers. We are proud of the progress we have made to date and we remain dedicated to finding innovative ways to further enhance our operations through ongoing collaboration with transporter associations and industry stakeholders” said Peters.