SOUTH AFRICA – Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has resumed operations after severe storms prompted the suspension of shipping movements at several ports along the Western Cape coast this week.
In a statement released late Thursday, TNPA confirmed that operations at the Port Elizabeth Bulk Terminal and Saldanha, as well as Cape Town Multipurpose Terminal, had resumed on Wednesday. However, challenges remain, with some ports still experiencing difficult conditions.
“The Cape Town Container Terminal is still experiencing high swells and remains wind-bound. This has impacted two vessels that are unable to dock. TNPA is assessing the movements of smaller ships, which can be docked during this period,” the statement read. Despite these issues, no adverse incidents have been reported at any ports in the region.
TNPA emphasized its commitment to ensuring the safety of employees and port infrastructure. “TNPA remains committed to ensuring the safety of employees and port infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Eastern Cape terminals are operating intermittently in the interest of employee safety,” the ports authority noted.
The statement also mentioned that Western Cape terminals are expected to resume operations by Friday afternoon, while KwaZulu-Natal terminals continue to operate normally.
The severe storms, which included winds of up to 35 knots and heavy rain, caused significant disruptions.
This led to severe flooding and road closures across parts of the Western Cape. The agricultural sector, especially in the Cape citrus regions, has been heavily impacted by these closures.
Citrus growers have been unable to harvest this week and packing activities have been disrupted.
Boet Mouton, spokesperson for the Summer Citrus Association, commented, “While it is inconvenient for the citrus sector to deal with the bad weather at the peak of their season, they were still maintaining supply.”
“We do not know what the effect will be on our export operations, but it is likely to occur over the next months.”
One vessel scheduled to load citrus for the US market has been canceled, highlighting the challenges faced by the industry.
Despite these disruptions, there is a positive aspect for some agricultural producers. The table grape, apple, pear, and stonefruit seasons are currently in their winter phase, meaning that these crops have not been as heavily impacted by the severe weather.
This respite provides some relief for growers in these sectors as they prepare for the upcoming seasons.
As TNPA works to normalize operations and address the backlog caused by the storm, the focus remains on safety and efficiency.
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