Semarang Port Will Soon Stay Open Day and Night for Ship Loading and Unloading
While the operating performance of ships at PT Semarang Container Terminal (TPKS) is improving, a subsidiary of PT Pelindo III (Limited) is working to ready the Semarang port for 24 hour nonstop service.
The Director of Operations and Engineering (Diroptek) for PT Pelindo III, FarisAssegaf, said that more efforts to improve the operational efficiency and service performance for loading and unloading activities were a must if the port was to stay open all the time. New targets have been set for minimum efficiency performance and productivity for labor.
"Implementation of 24 hour stevedoring operations is surely a good idea, but to make it happen, it would require additional preparation in all divisions, especially the Operation Division, as they are directly related to the activities of loading and unloading," said Assegaf.
The General Manager of (GM) TPKS, Sumarzen Marzuki, said that the 24 hour operational program was already on the table before he even became the general manager.
"After I looked at the work patterns and effectiveness achieved by the TPKS, I was then challenged to make some adjustments in the operational sector. These included preparing the systems, equipment and human resources," he said.
However, for this plan to work, a strong synergy between divisions must exist. For example, all equipment must be carefully used, maintained and matched with the proper Container Crane (CC) or Rubber Tyred Gantry Crane (RTG). Also, if an appliance is damaged, it must be repaired or replaced as quickly as possible by the Engineering Division.
"As the volumes of loading and unloading increase, new equipment will be required and additional manpower will also be needed. The Human Resources Division will have to constantly upgrade the competency of its work force," Marzuki said.
Before the 24 hour plan can be implemented, the TPKS will spend approximately two weeks preparing the systems to be used.
"We expect that by the second week in April, 2012, the TPKS will be ready to operate for a full day," he said.
With the realization of the 24 hour loading and unloading service, the effectiveness of the TPKS is expected to reach 100%, while the terminal's current position is still in the 80% range.
(SAILINGS/PR/NT/ERIC)
