THE KINGSTON Container Terminal (KCT) ranks as the number one container port in the Caribbean, but with competition swiftly on its heels, the terminal is working assiduously to stay ahead of the game. The facility cites high productivity, coupled with the most modern technology and good human resource capital as its competitive advantages.
In today's highly competitive environment these factors are paramount, and KCT owned by the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ) and managed by APM Terminals (Jamaica) Limited recognises this, having implemented strategies to raise the level of productivity at the terminal in order to maintain its leading position.
At the end of 2003, the terminal exceeded the one million Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit (TEU) mark, compared to 957,685 TEUs in 2002.
Last year KCT took home the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA) 'Port of the Year' award after being regarded the most modern port in the Caribbean. Currently, 18 of the world's leading shipping lines call at the terminal, which is undergoing its fourth phase of expansion, scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.
KCT's main competitors are Colon and Manzanillo in Panama; Puerto Cabello, Venezuela; Curaçao in the Eastern Caribbean; Cartagena, Colombia; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic and Freeport, Bahamas. Most of these facilities are engaged in their own development programmes with the aim of increasing their market share.
IMPROVEMENT
Karen Clarke-Rigg, customer service officer of APM Terminals, says the improvement in productivity is a great accomplishment and the facility is looking to improve its performance this year. She credits the improvement in productivity to new systems that have been put in place, which range from changes in procedure to continuous staff training and introduction of modern technology.
Training is a big part of the strategy, Mrs Clarke Rigg explains, adding this is on-going and already the full complement of staff have benefited from training.
"A healthy industrial relationship climate enhances performance for all Once most if not all staff needs are met, the output among staff will definitely be better. Currently, on a scale of one to 10, the industrial climate is seven," she observes.
KCT now boasts of achieving a target of 26 moves per gang hour (mpgh), clocking excellent gate time and increased crane and straddle reliability. The current average is 27 mpgh.
This year the focus continues to be on improved productivity as well as equipment, and port security, which has increased in priority because of the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which outlines specific requirements for ports to meet. This takes effect on July 1, 2004. KCT has already met 90 per cent of these requirements and is on target for compliance in July.
Overall, the Port Authority of Jamaica continues to improve the physical infrastructure at KCT as well as acquiring modern systems to enhance productivity and efficiency. Last month, a US$46.3 million contract was signed for the reconstruction and expansion work at the facility. It is expected that when this phase of the work is completed in 2005, the total capacity of the port will be 1.5 million TEUs.
