By Eamonn Ryan
After several years in which delays at the Port of Cape Town became synonymous with uncertainty, there are encouraging signs that operations are turning a corner.
© Cold Link Africa
Recent improvements in vessel turnaround times suggest that targeted investments, better equipment and operational refinements are beginning to deliver measurable results.
According to the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), average container vessel turnaround time has fallen from 103 hours during the 2023/24 financial year to 74 hours in 2025/26. Performance has improved even further in the current financial year, with year-to-date averages now standing at just 58 hours.
The time vessels spend waiting at anchorage has also declined significantly, dropping from an average of 127 hours in 2023/24 to 79 hours in 2025/26. TNPA attributes these gains to improved terminal handling rates and fewer delays associated with marine operations.
One of the most significant interventions has been the permanent deployment of ten shore tension units, which have reduced operational downtime caused by long-wave conditions by 92% since 2023/24. These systems allow vessels to remain safely alongside during challenging sea conditions, reducing costly interruptions to cargo handling.
The improvements have occurred despite growing demand. Container volumes increased by 6.5% during 2025/26, supported by record deep-sea import and export volumes.
Improvements visible throughout the supply chain
Industry stakeholders report that the operational gains are increasingly evident. Exporters Western Cape chairman Terry Gale told Freight News that vessel performance has improved substantially, with ships now approaching the point where they can berth immediately upon arrival rather than spending extended periods waiting at anchor.
Favourable weather has undoubtedly played a role, but Gale also credits investment in new equipment that has strengthened the port’s ability to continue operating during periods of higher winds.
The Western Cape Government has similarly observed improvements through its digital logistics planning platform, particularly following the commissioning of additional equipment towards the end of last year.
However, industry observers caution that sustained performance will depend on more than infrastructure investment alone. Skilled equipment operators, effective responses to adverse weather, proactive maintenance and close co-ordination between shipping lines, terminal operators, transport companies and exporters will all remain critical if these gains are to be maintained.
The improvements also follow Cape Town’s disappointing performance in the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index (CPPI), where weather-related disruptions and operational bottlenecks were identified as major contributors to poor vessel turnaround times.
The approaching fruit export season will provide perhaps the most meaningful test yet of whether these operational improvements have become embedded. As Gale observed, the industry now has an opportunity to demonstrate that the recent progress is sustainable rather than temporary.
What this means for the cold chain
For South Africa’s cold chain sector, faster vessel turnaround times represent far more than an operational statistic – they directly influence product quality, export competitiveness and profitability.
Every hour that refrigerated containers spend waiting at anchorage or on the quayside adds cost and risk. Delays increase electricity consumption for reefers, complicate transport scheduling, tie up valuable refrigerated equipment and place additional pressure on exporters working within narrow shipping windows. For highly perishable products such as table grapes, citrus, deciduous fruit, berries, meat, seafood and pharmaceuticals, maintaining schedule integrity is almost as important as maintaining temperature.
Improved port efficiency also creates benefits well beyond Cape Town itself. More predictable vessel arrivals enable cold stores, transport operators and distribution centres to plan labour and equipment utilisation more effectively. Truck turnaround times improve, congestion is reduced and refrigerated assets spend more time moving products rather than waiting in queues.
Importers likewise stand to benefit through more reliable delivery of temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, vaccines, frozen foods and other refrigerated cargo, helping reduce inventory costs while strengthening supply chain resilience.
Perhaps most importantly, sustained operational improvements enhance South Africa’s reputation as a dependable export partner. International buyers increasingly evaluate not only product quality but also supply chain reliability when selecting sourcing destinations. A port capable of delivering consistent performance strengthens confidence in South African exporters and supports the country’s competitiveness in global perishable markets.
The recent improvements therefore represent more than an operational success story for the Port of Cape Town – they offer renewed optimism for the entire cold chain. If these gains can be maintained through the forthcoming peak fruit export season, they will demonstrate that strategic investment, improved equipment and better operational co-ordination can significantly enhance one of the most critical links in South Africa’s temperature-controlled supply chain.