The Cape Town Container Terminal (CTCT) has experienced severe operational disruptions over the past fortnight due to extreme wind conditions. Wind speeds between 100 km/h and 120 km/h—well beyond the safe handling threshold of 80 km/h—have caused significant delays, resulting in over 200 lost operational hours. Currently, 10 vessels remain at anchor, with some having waited for several days to berth. These weather-related setbacks come at the peak of the deciduous fruit export season, adding urgency to recovery efforts.
Transnet Port Terminals Boosts Resources
In response to the adverse weather, Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) has increased the number of cranes and operational teams per shift to accelerate cargo handling once conditions permit. The terminal now operates with eight cranes and eight teams per shift, an increase from the previous seven. TPT Western Cape Region Managing Executive, Oscar Borchards, emphasised that while the port is not yet fully capacitated for an eight-gang shift, employees have been called back from leave, and internal meetings have been suspended to prioritise operations.
Technical teams and original equipment manufacturers contracted to the terminal for six years remain on standby to address any machinery breakdowns swiftly. Port management is closely monitoring progress on an hourly basis to ensure an efficient recovery once wind speeds subside.
Projected Recovery and Industry Concerns
Despite the intensified efforts, clearing the backlog could take up to two weeks, provided weather conditions remain favourable. Acting Senior Planning Manager for CTCT, Lubabalo Kenana, indicated in a letter that recovery operations are progressing, with vessel numbers at anchorage decreasing from 12 to 10, as confirmed in the latest operational reports. Two more vessel changeovers were scheduled for 20 February at berths 602 and 601, further reducing congestion.
However, concerns persist within the freight industry regarding the port’s ability to recover as efficiently as it once did. A logistics executive expressed disappointment over the decline in resilience, stating that Cape Town previously set the benchmark for rapid recovery from gale-force stoppages. The late Mike Walwyn, former director at the South African Association of Freight Forwarders, often attributed the port’s challenges to a ‘PPE problem’—productivity, personnel, and equipment.
While Borchards dismissed claims that recovery efforts are inadequate, acknowledging the extraordinary wind conditions, industry experts believe systemic improvements are needed. For now, the priority remains clearing the backlog to keep agricultural exports moving during the critical fruit season.