Dry-bulk and break-bulk vessel anchorage waiting time in the Port of Durban’s bulk terminal

Abstract

Background: The Port of Durban plays a pivotal role in South Africa’s maritime trade. This article addresses a critical challenge faced by the Durban dry-bulk and break-bulk terminal, which is the excessive waiting time experienced by vessels at anchorage. Lengthy anchorage waiting time results in economic losses for shipping companies and affects the overall efficiency of the port.
Objectives: The study aimed to identify the factors that affect the anchorage of dry-bulk and break-bulk vessels while waiting for the berth (WFB) in order to recommend actions that should be taken to reduce vessel anchorage waiting time while WFB at the Port of Durban’s bulk terminal.
Method: Qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews, which lends itself particularly well to thematic analysis.
Results: The research findings reveal that multiple factors contribute to the extended waiting times experienced by dry-bulk and break-bulk vessels at the Port of Durban. These factors include inefficient cargo handling processes, inadequate infrastructure, congestion, adverse weather conditions, and port capacity constraints. In addition, vessels arriving at the same time while the berth is still occupied further intensify delays, resulting in vessels WFB at anchorage.
Conclusion: The study identified and prioritised these factors, which enabled the development of targeted solutions to mitigate the waiting time issue. The proposed solutions encompass both short-term and long-term measures.
Contribution: This research emphasises the importance of supply chain collaboration among key port stakeholders.