Covid-19 lockdown: 26 March-16 April

25 Mar 2020 / South Africa

At 23:59 on Thursday 26 March 2020, South Africa will go on a nationwide lock-down with the exception of essential services. This is envisaged to last until 23:59 on Thursday 16 April 2020.

The following is the position of Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) regarding the application to our terminals to ensure that critical business continuity services are supported in the best interests of South Africa:

  1. In order to remain open to support the essential services, whilst still reducing exposure between our staff and others, TPT will operate on a reduced staff basis:
    a. All Bulk Terminals (mineral mining commodities) will be closed with the exception of Agri Bulk products (grains, soya bean meal, fertiliser and woodchips) deemed an essential service and will operate on a single berth operation i.e East London, Richards Bay and Durban Agri.
    b. The following Breakbulk Terminals (MPT’s) will operate on a single berth operation in order to handle essential breakbulk goods and containers: Cape Town MPT, Richards Bay MPT and Durban Point MPT.
    c. East London MPT, Saldanha MPT, Port Elizabeth MPT and Maydon Wharf MPT will be closed.
    d. All Automotive Terminals will be closed.

  2. Essential services, as defined by the Government of South Africa, will be prioritised by TPT. As such:
    a. TPT will continue to facilitate imports and exports of essential goods as allowed.
    b. Essential goods will be prioritised over non-essential goods.
    c. Each vessel will be required to provide a mandatory import evacuation plan prior to berthing, to maintain fluidity during this period. This plan must be honoured in order to avoid the severe consequence of the terminal being blocked out.
    d. We require all clearance and assignment of containers prior to berthing. It will remain the responsibility of the shipping line to evacuate said containers to a suitable facility.TPT reserves the right not to berth a vessel should these requirements not be met.
    e. TPT reserves the right to prioritise the berthing of vessels on a first planned, first served basis in all terminals. However, TPT also reserves the right in its sole discretion, to change the order of berthing in order to prioritise the handling of essential goods.
    f. The acceptance of export intents on rail will only be allowed if they can be physically exported through the applicable terminal for essential goods.
    g. Reefer containers will continue to be prioritised over non-essential exports.

The above application will apply from 22h00 on 26 March 2020 until 06h00 on 17 April 2020.

We reserve the right to immediately change the application of the above rulings as the need permits.

(For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in South Africa, contact GAC South Africa at [email protected])

Source: Transnet letter dated 24 March 2020

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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