DURBAN'S CAR TERMINAL MEETS THE CHALLENGES OF A ...

DURBAN’S CAR TERMINAL MEETS THE CHALLENGES OF A GROWING MOTOR VEHICLEINDUSTRYBeverley Masson, Automotive Channel Manager and Business Unit Executive, Durban CarTerminal, Durban, South AfricaINTRODUCTIONThe Durban Car Terminal, a business unit of Transnet Port Terminals – a division of TransnetLimited – is a ‘common user’ facility serving the majority of motor manufacturers and vehicleimporters in South Africa. It handles two thirds of the country’s vehicle imports and exports andhas been specially designed to manage this high-value, roll-on roll-off cargo.The terminal also administers the loading and discharging of abnormal heavy loads such asearth-moving equipment and associated cargo, often in conjunction with motor vehicles.TERMINAL FACILITIESThe Durban Car Terminal comprises dedicated berthing facilities, with three linked quays toaccommodate large vessels at a depth of up to 10.9 metres.Capacity expansion is currently underway to ramp up to 14 000 parking bays by the end of 2008,translating into an annual throughput of 570 000 units per annum. This is complemented by roadand rail access, vehicle inspection facilities and an administrative block, each boasting stringentsecurity enforcement.The car terminal offers further added value for clients through the construction of one-stop PDI(personal data interchange) facilities and wash bays, thus reducing the cost of doing businessand minimising risk by lessening the need to move vehicles to off-site facilities, .The terminal’s key infrastructure features include:15 000 vehicle slots3 berths for PCTC (Pure Car/Truck Carrier) vessels with opportunistic berths in closeproximityOverhead dedicated link bridge from Q/R berth to terminal facilitiesRoad handling facilitiesRail sidings within the terminalPDI fitment centresCar wash facilitiesSAFETY AND SECURITYSafety is a top priority at the terminal and is driven with passion by all employees.The five star NOSA rating which the terminal enjoys, is testimony to the drive and emphasisplaced on safety at the facility. Furthermore, the car terminal was the first terminal in South Africato achieve this status.In addition to the above, the terminal also achieved a National Occupational Safety CreditedAward (NOSCAR rating) for the marine industry in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, earning its statusamong the internationally accredited “Top 100 Companies” grouping.To achieve NOSCAR status, the terminal had to achieve over 95 percent effectiveness of its

programmes in a national occupation safety audit for three consecutive years.Security at the terminal is equally rigorous. The premises are flood-lit at night and surrounded byhigh concrete walls and/or palisade security fencing, complemented by closed circuit surveillancetelevision monitoring. All access is governed by stringent access control measures. Durban CarTerminal is also ISPS compliant.INVESTMENTS IN THE TERMINALDurban Car Terminal is currently increasing its parking capacity from 10 000 parking bays to 14000 parking bays, resulting in an increased throughput from 400 000 units to 570 000 units perannum.IMPROVED PRODUCTIVITYA fully-fledged planning department has been established, which will focus on the followingaspects:• Berth planning• Stack planning• Rail planning• Truck planning• Resource planningTransnet Limited, the parent company of Transnet Port Terminals, is focusing strongly on anintegrated corridor solution to further enhance its service offerings to customers. These corridorsare intermodal routes of port-rail integration where Transnet has specifically committed toimproving productivity and efficiency to meet the future long term demand for freight transport.A state-of-the-art cargo tracking system at the Durban Car Terminal provides end-to-end visibilityof the logistics chain, thus increasing productivity and performance and enabling the terminal tofunction more efficiently and cost effectively. Designed by Transnet Port Terminals’ IT team, thesystem manages administrative as well as operational processes and provides real-time trackingfrom source to destination. Unlike other international systems the vehicle tracking system isexceptionally flexible, and its key to success is that it can be tailored to the specific needs ofindividual stakeholders.It has been enhanced with EDI (electronic data interchange) facilities linked directly to the vehiclemanufacturers and other stakeholders. The EDI offering is used as a vital communication link inthe logistics chain between the port and vehicle manufacturers.In terms of quality, the terminal boasts ISO 9001/2000 and ISO 14 000 accreditation.As the quality management system is driven by standardised work procedures and processes,this has resulted in consistency across the terminal’s operations.ABOUT THE AUTHORAbout a decade ago Transnet Port Terminals’ Durban Car Terminal was established withBeverley Masson as the country’s first female port terminal manager. Masson is now theAutomotive Channel Manager and Business Unit Executive at South Africa’s largest vehicleterminal facility.

Automotive Channel Manager and Business Unit ExecutiveDurban Car TerminalBeverley MassonTel: 002731 3618371E-mail: Beverley.Masson@transnet.netFOR TERMINAL ENQUIRIESCustomer Service ManagerLinda MullerTel: 002731 3618646E-mail: linda.muller@transnet.netPostal address: P O Box 149368, East End, 4018, South AfricaDURBAN CAR TERMINAL OPERATIONAL AREAS

G BERTH OPERATIONAL AREAS

Durban Car TerminalVolumes400,000386,062 388,894 382,570350,000300,000315,553302,884250,000200,000150,000100,000211,369151,825116,2422002/3 2003/4 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/1ActualForecast