The Port of Cape Town endured significant disruptions last week, losing over 70 hours of operational work due to gale force winds and heavy rainfall, according to the latest Cargo Movement Update (CMU) released on July 16. The disruptions come at a critical time, as emphasized by President Cyril Ramaphosa during a Climate Resilience Symposium in Pretoria. The President highlighted the shutdown of Cape Town’s port due to extreme weather as a major obstacle to South Africa’s trade, particularly affecting the timely export of perishable fruits.
Compiled by the South Africa Association of Freight Forwarders (Saaff) and Business Unity SA (Busa), the CMU report also noted that the inclement weather extended beyond Cape Town. The Eastern Cape experienced similar issues, with strong winds and vessel ranging causing significant delays. Despite the abatement of the storm, forecasts predict further adverse weather, suggesting potential ongoing disruptions.
Adding to the tumult, a container vessel operated by CMA CGM, named the Benjamin Franklin, reportedly lost 44 containers overboard off the Cape coast during the storm. An additional 30 containers suffered damage due to on-deck movement, underlining the severity of the conditions.
The Port of Durban, South Africa’s busiest container port, also faced challenges. Equipment breakdowns and operational delays were exacerbated by gusty conditions, with ships experiencing extended wait times—averaging 189 hours—to dock. As of last Wednesday, only 50 straddle carriers were operational at Durban’s Container Terminal Pier 2, down from 55 the previous week, with a total of 67 available.
This spate of disruptions underscores the vulnerability of South Africa’s port infrastructure to extreme weather events, raising concerns about the efficiency and resilience of critical trade gateways in the face of increasing climate variability.