Navigating mining logistics

Background

A copper mine in Zambia recently underwent a significant transformation with new investment and management. This change brought increased pressure to meet operational targets, particularly during a critical project that required the timely delivery of essential out-of-gauge equipment from Europe to the mine site. The success of this project was crucial to avoid costly delays during a scheduled shutdown.

The logistical challenge involved transporting cargo from Poland to South Africa and then by road to Zambia, with a strict timeline dictated by the mining shutdown schedule. The typical route through Durban port presented significant risks due to congestion, which threatened to derail the entire project. Logistics agility, planning, and speed became key factors in the project's success.

Logistics strategy

The team at DSV began coordinating the movement of cargo from Poland to Germany for export, with a tight deadline that required extensive overtime and weekend work. The critical objective was to ensure that the cargo made it onto a specific vessel to meet the Estimated Time of Arrival (ETA) at the destination port, a critical milestone for aligning with the mine site's shutdown schedule.

Challenge: Durban port congestion

The original plan was to utilise Durban as the port of entry to South Africa, followed by road transport to Zambia. However, significant congestion at Durban port threatened to delay the cargo by up to three weeks, a delay that would have rendered the entire effort futile.

Solution: Alternative port selection

DSV’s team swiftly conducted a review of all potential corridors. The Port of Walvis Bay in Namibia was considered as an alternative, offering a two-week time-saving due to its lack of congestion despite requiring an additional week of sailing time. However, another option emerged—the Port of Coega. The vessel scheduled to dock at Durban was set to reach Coega first, which was free from congestion. This discovery presented an opportunity to not only avoid Durban's delays but also to ensure the cargo’s timely arrival in Zambia.

Final decision and result

The DSV team made the decision to reroute the shipment through the Port of Coega and the cargo was successfully offloaded and transported by road to the mine site. The strategic decision-making, and meticulous planning and execution of the logistics transport solution by the DSV team resulted in the cargo arriving three days ahead of the critical shutdown deadline.