Safmarine's 'Business Link' forum focuses on finding eco-solutions

SHIPPING line Safmarine this October launched a new forum aimed at assisting its customers in finding solutions to business-critical challenges.

The focus of the first forum was on the logistical challenges of importers in South Africa's landlocked Gauteng province, the country's economic hub and richest province.

Dieter Veening, Southern African sales executive said in a company statement: "South Africa's extensive port and freight rail infrastructure upgrades, while essential to the long-term, sustainable growth of the South African economy, have resulted in short-term logistical challenges and high costs for several Gauteng shippers who are highly reliant on an efficient and cost-effective transport network.

"Safmarine's aim in hosting this forum was to openly discuss and assist in identifying solutions to the port- and rail-related issues facing our customers."

Transnet executives, Wiseman Madinane, commercial head of Transnet Freight Rail (TFR) and John Hyde, Transnet Port Terminal's national planning manager, were invited to speak about the extensive upgrades at the Durban Container port and inland City Deep terminals and, to share their ideas on how to limit the negative impact of these upgrades.

The need to reduce container turn-around times, for both rail and road haulage, as well as the option of discharging cargo, traditionally shipped via Durban, to other ports in order to reduce pressure on Durban, South Africa's largest and busiest port, were also among the issues discussed at the forum.