Minister of Finance and Economic Opportunities
With regard to the Port of Cape Town:
(a) (i) What is the average waiting time for container ships to berth at the port and (ii) what is the cause of the excessive waiting times, if any, (b) what is the average number of twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) containers to be (i) loaded and (ii) unloaded at the port per week, (c) what is the average waiting time for trucks to be (i) loaded and (ii) unloaded at the port per week and (d) what is the cause of the excessive delays, if any?
I am informed of the following:(i)
The average waiting time for container vessels to berth at Transnet terminals varies from week to week as indicated below:
Week | Waiting Time to Berth (Days) |
22-28 May 2023 | 2 Days |
21-27 May | 2 Days |
8-14 May | 1 Day |
3-9 April | 3.6 Days |
6-12 March | 6.3 Days |
(a) (ii)
Delays are caused primarily by weather (high wind speeds), a lack of sufficient equipment and by breakdowns in heavy lifting equipment, mostly rubber tyred gantries.
I am informed of the following:
- (i)
The average waiting time for container vessels to berth at Transnet terminals varies from week to week as indicated below:
Week | Waiting Time to Berth (Days) |
22-28 May 2023 | 2 Days |
21-27 May | 2 Days |
8-14 May | 1 Day |
3-9 April | 3.6 Days |
6-12 March | 6.3 Days |
(a) (ii)
Delays are caused primarily by weather (high wind speeds), a lack of sufficient equipment and by breakdowns in heavy lifting equipment, mostly rubber tyred gantries.
(b) (i) and (ii)
TEUs loaded and unloaded at Transnet container terminals per week differ according to the stage within the two main export seasons. Information for the past 4 weeks is provided below.
Week | TEU Imports | TEU Exports |
27 May – 2 June 2023 | 3,314 | 6,477 |
20-26 May | 4,358 | 6,380 |
6-12 May | 3,381 | 8,719 |
22-28 April | 4,275 | 6,449 |
(c) (i) and (ii)
The average truck waiting time to load and offload in the main container terminal is provided below for the last 4 weeks. There is no material difference in the truck waiting time to load or offload.
Week | Truck Waiting Time in Cape Town Container Terminal |
27 May – 2 June 2023 | 56 Minutes |
20-26 May | 44 Minutes |
13-19 May | 50 Minutes |
6-12 May | 46 Minutes |
(d)
The causes of delays in truck turnaround time include a lack of equipment, breakdowns in heavy lifting equipment (especially rubber tyred gantries), as well as inclement weather when the terminal closes because wind speed exceeds the parameters for safe operations. Driver behaviour and the roadworthiness of some trucks also contribute to long truck waiting times.
(b) (i) and (ii)
TEUs loaded and unloaded at Transnet container terminals per week differ according to the stage within the two main export seasons. Information for the past 4 weeks is provided below.
Week | TEU Imports | TEU Exports |
27 May – 2 June 2023 | 3,314 | 6,477 |
20-26 May | 4,358 | 6,380 |
6-12 May | 3,381 | 8,719 |
22-28 April | 4,275 | 6,449 |
(c) (i) and (ii)
The average truck waiting time to load and offload in the main container terminal is provided below for the last 4 weeks. There is no material difference in the truck waiting time to load or offload.
Week | Truck Waiting Time in Cape Town Container Terminal |
27 May – 2 June 2023 | 56 Minutes |
20-26 May | 44 Minutes |
13-19 May | 50 Minutes |
6-12 May | 46 Minutes |
(d)
The causes of delays in truck turnaround time include a lack of equipment, breakdowns in heavy lifting equipment (especially rubber tyred gantries), as well as inclement weather when the terminal closes because wind speed exceeds the parameters for safe operations. Driver behaviour and the roadworthiness of some trucks also contribute to long truck waiting times.
