Hauliers working out of Southampton Container Terminal (SCT) are facing a major downturn in work as the port continues to suffer the after-effects of last month's gantry-crane collapse. The incident on 18 January has left the port operating at little more than half capacity.
Brian Tattersall, managing director of Pentalver Transport, says: "We had an incredibly busy week [after the collapse], when we took additional export containers in, but it has since died a death. If there are no ships
coming in, then we are snookered."
A spokesman for Maritime Transport, which has a substantial operation at SCT, adds: "We recognise the challenge facing SCT in returning to full operating levels. However, in terms of servicing our customers, the situation is catastrophic." SCT says another two cranes will be added by the end of the month, taking the total to nine out of 12.
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