What does port congestion have to do with short time for Numsa members? Lots, says Woody Aroun, after spending time with Satawu dockworkers.
Long delays at Durban's port have sent shock waves not only through our local economy, but to many other sectors dependent on imported materials, machinery and spares. Numsa members are sometimes put on short time as a result of port congestion and the subsequent non-delivery of materials.
Over the last few months the commercial media has been quick to point out this congestion as cargo ships, sometimes more than thirty in a row, find anchorage close to the city's shoreline.
The causes of congestion are many and varied as management and the unions square up to each other and battle it out on the waterfront.
The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu) shopstewards committee spoke to Numsa News about some of the problems leading to congestion at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT). Satawu shopstewards dismissed as "nonsense" media claims that strikes and other worker related problems are the main causes of backlogs and delays.
According to Satawu the following are the main causes of congestion.Too many vessels are being directed to Durban and the port has to service all types of vessels.
The construction of the vessel also has a lot to do with the way "boxes" (containers) are loaded and offloaded on to the vessel. Large ships with flat decks and no cranes fitted on either side of the vessel (cellular vessels) are easy to offload and load compared to non-cellular vessels that are smaller and fitted with cranes or "derricks" on either side of the vessel. More time is taken offloading / loading non-cellular vessels.
Casual workers
Stevedore companies use casual workers provided by labour brokers to get the containers off the ship – these casual workers usually latch / unlatch the containers and guide the Portnet crane operator as the crane is manoeuvered into place.
Because these workers are casual they do not receive substantial employment benefits and no training. And these workers are paid only for the hours worked. "If they work too quickly, then this affects their rate of pay.
So it pays to work for longer hours," says a shopsteward. Satawu pointed out that labour brokers and stevedore companies "chop and change" casual workers indiscriminately – "today you might have an experienced casual worker, tomorrow they might hire someone new and inexperienced".
Poor management
But these aren't the only problems, says Satawu. Poor management and planning is another factor that leads to delays and backlogs. There is a high turnover of management at the container terminal. "A manager needs at least five years experience at the terminal. Some quit the job after two. They simply can't cope with the pressure of the job", says one of the shopstewards.
Other problems
once 'boxes' are lifted off the ship they are moved to a stacking area. Sometimes the allocated stacking area is not cleared on time or containers have been placed in the wrong stacking area.
This leads to unnecessary delays. Containers bound for Durban are sometimes loaded at the bottom of the pile. Containers then have to be removed to allow access to the Durban bound containers.
Once the Durban containers are removed, the other containers then have to be reloaded onto the ship resulting in further time loss and added delays. The port needs more tug boats and crew There are problems with computer software and a lack of expertise to deal with the problems associated with the system that was purchased from Belgium.
When problems occur, technical assistance is sought from Belgium telephonically – there is no local expertise to solve the problem. Some of the cranes are not in good working order and the parts are difficult to obtain There is no coherent employment policy – jobs are for friends and relatives
Natural problems
Natural problems also play a hand in causing delays. Strong winds and heavy swells in the sea can lead to a suspension of all port activities until the winds subside and the ocean returns to calm.A manager of a leading shipping company agreed that there were problems, but linked delays to low levels of productivity.
"In Singapore 45 containers are handled an hour, in Durban the average is 15 – this is not good for business and not good for the country", said the manager.Satawu disputes that productivity levels are low.
A DTC communiqué issued on April 14 this year congratulated all staff at the terminal for handling 4465 containers in a day. According to Satawu, port congestion at Durban's container terminal will always be a problem so long as management remains intransigent to the many diverse, but interconnected problems that lead to long delays and added congestion.
Source
Numsa News