Transporting...
Whilst there is so much on the go in the world of shipping and Logistics at the moment, we thought it a good idea to share some positive news and developments in a bid to instil hope and trust that things will get better…
As far as the port of Cape Town is concerned (Cape Town Container Terminal and Cape Town Multi-Purpose Terminal) we have seen a remarkable improvement in the productivity of the Port with currently no berthing delays. There are 20 RTG’s (Tubber Tyre Gantries) in operation, where a few months ago it was alleged that only 13 x RTG’s were operational. There are then also 7 Ship-to-Shore Gantry Cranes in operation at the CTCT, so productivity is definitely improving.
Due to the increased productivity and the decrease in port delays, there is a hint in the market that more and more services will re-instate their Cape Town call. Most importantly the service running between Europe and South Africa. We will keep an eager eye on this and will share the developing news with you, the moment anything is advised publicly…
Shanghai has re-opened after being in lockdown for a number of weeks. Whilst there is a backlog of cargo that will need to be cleared within the coming weeks, we believe that this will have an overall positive effect on the trade from the Far East as the volumes increase, thereby encouraging the Carriers to maintain their weekly sailings (i.e. not to have their blank or slide sailings)
For Imports, we have noted that Sea Freight rates are remaining stable with minor General Rate Increases being requested by carriers. Capacity and Equipment availability remains a challenge on some routes…
In closing, and on a Pioneer Freight team or family note; our dear friend and colleague, Lionel Africa, retired after +/- 20 years of dedication and service to Pioneer Freight.
