Floods in Durban, ZA - here's an update

Durban has been impacted by heavy rainfall leading to severe flooding, that has caused widespread damage and impact to our operations. We are relieved to share that all our employees are safe and accounted for. Our Durban office is now open, and business has resumed as usual.We continue to monitor the weather situation in Durban and have made an initial assessment of damage and impact to our operations with the following highlights:

Update: April 20, 2022

The main road leading to Durban port was severely damaged hence it was closed. Rehabilitation of the main road (known as Bayhead Road) is currently underway, however, there is no indication when this will be completed. Currently, the terminals are only releasing import boxes containing essential commodities. Export release is allowed for reefers only.

Terminal Operations:

• Pier 1: Waterside operations are ongoing with 5 gangs, but are interrupted at intervals due to electricity outages. For essential cargo, landside operations commenced with the approval of the Traffic Management, but appointments will not be available. For the time being, acceptance for export cargo is suspended. Rail operations are currently handled by one gang.
• Pier 2: Waterside operations are ongoing with 10 gangs, however, interrupted from time to time due to electricity outage. For essential cargo, landside operations commenced with the approval of the Traffic Management, but appointments will not be available. Export acceptance is currently allowed for reefers only. Rail operations planned to resume with one gang.
• Multi-Purpose (SAT Service): Water side and landside are currently ongoing, however, interrupted at intervals due to electricity outages. MV LODUR is expected to face a berthing delay of approximately 3 days. Import release and export acceptance are working as normal.

Depot Operations

• Kingsrest Bay Head: Open
• UCD: Closed until further notice
• Kingrest Clairwood: Open
• Grindrod Gale Street: Open
• DCP: Open

Detention and Demurrage relief policies remain as stated in our April 13, 2022 update.

Update: April 13, 2022

Terminal Operations

Pier 1: Landside operations are currently suspended due to blockage in Bayhead Road. Waterside operations resumed today at 06:00, but expected to progress slowly due to the landside situation.

Pier 2: Landside operations resumed to clear all trucks stuck inside the terminal during the bad weather spell. Waterside operations suspended until landside operations are cleared.

Depot Operations

• Kingsrest Bay Head: Closed
• UCD: Closed, until further notice
• Kingrest Clairwood: Open
• Grindrod Gale Street: Open
• DCP: Open

As we follow the developments, our teams will continue to formulate contingency measures in line with the complexity of the situation, which regretfully is not in our control. We are working on providing clear guidelines for all our export and import customers, both dry and reefer in terms of booking acceptance, and container and import releases. With this in mind, we would like to offer the following relief for detention and demurrage:

• Detention calculation (MHO/MHD) for both import and export will not apply for 7 days covering April 12, 2022 - April 18, 2022 (both days included). In case you receive an invoice for the stated period, we request you to please bring this to our attention.
• Demurrage Depot Storage for import will not apply for 7 days covering April 12, 2022 - April 18, 2022 (both days included). In case you receive an invoice for the stated period, we request you to please bring this to our attention.
• Terminal storage will be based on the TPT relief offering.
• Overstay process may be impacted resulting in units remaining in the terminal.
  

We thank you for your patience through this very difficult period and would like to reassure you that we remain contactable via all our usual channels.

Please stay safe.