Container and shipping company Ocean Network Express' (ONE's) newest vessel Recommendation exchanged 2 578 containers for import with 2 600 containers for export, including refrigerated citrus containers, at the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 during the past week.
The terminal deployed adequate resources to efficiently service the four-month-old vessel without interruption and within the stipulated window.
Earlier this year, DCT Pier 1 successfully handled sister vessels Readiness and Reassurance on their maiden voyages to South Africa.
The new ship is part of ONE’s new fleet of lower-carbon emission vessels and has only been to three other destinations to load before heading to South Africa from Singapore.
After four days, it left for its next destination, which is Singapore, said State-owned Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) in a statement.
The voyage of Recommendation is a boost to Transnet’s recovery objectives.
Improved operating and cost efficiency, as well as global competitiveness of the local port terminal network, are among critical elements of Transnet’s Recovery Plan, whose primary focus is the recovery of volumes from key operations and operating divisions across the organisation, said TPT Durban Terminals managing executive Earle Peters.
“The confidence ONE continues to demonstrate in our business is encouraging and speaks to the strength of the partnership we have cemented over time.”
The terminal boasted dedicated employees who continued to work around the clock to ensure the terminal was always open for business, he added.
“While we are recovering as a business overall, we are serving and every opportunity like this boosts DCT Pier 2,” he said.