SAPO Handles Record Breaking Volumes at Durban Car Terminal

Jan 24, 2007
Author: SAPO

Vehicle departing the Morning Calm

24 January 24, 2007: All hands were on deck at South African Port Operation’s Durban Car Terminal today as staff began off-loading a record breaking 5,036 cars from the Morning Calm which celebrated its maiden voyage into South African waters as it docked at the Durban harbour last night.

This is the biggest shipment of cars to be discharged from a single vessel in South Africa – the previous record was 3,600.

Hector Danisa, Durban Car Terminal Business Unit Executive, said: “SAPO worked with the shipping agent, cargo owner and transporters to plan for the discharge of the 5,036 vehicles from China, Korea and Malaysia at the G Shed.


Hector Danisa, Durban Car Terminal Business Unit Executive

“This required proper planning for storage space and arranging teams and other resources to ensure efficient and continuous operations. We have 70 drivers working round the clock to offload the vessel within an estimated 45 hours.”

Danisa said SAPO was able to demonstrate efficient capacity and capability to handle the unprecedented shipment.

He said further that the Durban Car Terminal was handling a phenomenal growth in vehicle volumes in line with growing demand from the South African market. In 2006, 389,681 units were handled in the terminal, which represents a 41 percent on the previous year’s volume. 2007 is expected to grow by 18 percent.

“We are creating additional capacity to ensure that we are able to continue providing efficient and cost-effective services that are able to meet and exceed customer expectations.”

Sabu Joseph, Managing Director at Diamond Shipping Services, agents in South Africa for the shipping line, Eukor Car Carriers, Inc said: “The number of sailings increased from 25 calls in 2005 to 49 calls in 2006 and the number of units increased from 45,848 in 2005 to 65,013 units in 2006.”

“SAPO has demonstrated efficient services in handling this record-breaking project.”

Joseph said he was optimistic about the growth plans outlined by SAPO in keeping with the growth in the car import market.