Dan Starnes, Sales Director, goplasticpallets.com, argues that plastic pallets are the smarter choice for logistics managers.

For supply chain managers and logistics professionals, the ‘plastic pallets versus wooden pallets’ debate is the modern-day logistics dilemma. Although wooden pallets have traditionally been the go-to, plastic pallets have well and truly emerged as a superior alternative offering many benefits.

“Why should I switch from wooden to plastic pallets?” is the most common question our team is asked on any given week, so we are well-versed on the advantages when it comes to making that change.

Firstly, plastic pallets offer supreme strength and reliability over their wooden counterparts and have a proven track record in all types of automated handling scenarios. They are robust, consistent, and offer an ideal solution for heavy loads and complex tasks, supporting a higher load capacity than wooden pallets. They are also safe and easy to handle. Unlike wooden pallets, there are no nails, sharp edges or splinters, which also helps to minimise damage to products that are being stored or shipped. Plastic pallets are easier to wash and keep clean, whilst they are
impervious to moisture, weak acids and alkalis, which is a common problem for wooden alternatives.

Lower Freight Rates
Plastic pallets are lighter than wooden units (they tend to be about 30% lighter than wooden pallets of the same size and design), so freight rates are generally lower, whether by road, rail, sea or air, making them ideal for exports. They are also exempt from the ISPM15 rules for heat-treated wooden packaging, which minimises the risk of valuable consignments being held up during the customs process. Additionally, nestable plastic pallets are helping our customers to save valuable space when they are not in use or during return journeys, helping to save both money and carbon emissions.

There are now a huge variety of plastic pallets available to logistics managers. Through our network of exclusive partnerships with leading manufacturers, we offer the UK’s most comprehensive range of plastic pallets, allowing our team to find the perfect fit for any application or type of business – whether that comes down to size, weight, load capacity, an open or closed deck, or whether they are made from recycled or virgin-grade plastic. For example, we work with several major food manufacturers who use our hygienic pallets during the production process, whilst opting for recycled, lighter pallets for distribution once the finished products have been packaged.

Sustainable Credentials
Finally, and the most important consideration for our business, plastic pallets are far more sustainable. The pallets we supply will often last 10 to 15 years within the supply chain, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wooden pallets, which are often discarded after a few supply chain cycles and contribute to deforestation.

At the end of a plastic pallet’s lifespan, it can be recycled into a new pallet. Through our own industry-leading recycling scheme (we’ve now recycled more than 1,800 tonnes of plastic), we are helping our customers to play their part in the circular economy.

Cost Benefits
At this point of the conversation, we are normally asked, “but plastic pallets are more expensive, aren’t they?”. There is no denying they are more expensive than their wooden counterparts,
although the gap is tightening due to rises in global timber prices. If you are choosing pallets for multiple deliveries over many years, then plastic pallets will offer significant savings.

For example, and I’ll keep this relatively simple, if you purchase 5,000 plastic pallets at £40 each, you’ll have spent £200,000, twice the cost of 5,000 new wooden pallets at £20 each. However,
you are likely to replace around 35% of the wooden pallets each year due to breakages, compared to just 10% of the plastic pallets over five years. Therefore, at the end of the five-year period, the total cost of the plastic pallets would be £220,000, less £20,000, which is their recycling value at the end of their life. Meanwhile, the total cost of the wooden ones would be £275,000. After 10 years, the savings are even more substantial. When it comes to operational efficiency, safety, and total cost of ownership, plastic pallets win hands down.

SOUTH AFRICA: Joining the SA Agulhas II for a trip from East London to Cape Town last weekend, members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee were given a first-hand glimpse of the vessel’s capabilities as well as its importance in sustaining global efforts to study the ocean’s role in climate change.

Members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee were invited to join the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, on board the SA Agulhas II and used the opportunity to gain insight into the country’s asset as well as the department’s requirements to maintain its resources.

As part of the committee’s delegation, Dr Lillian Managa of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) said that she had been surprised to see the level of sophistication of the laboratories on board and that she was “satisfied that it (the vessel) is of benefit to the country”.

“There were several things we wanted to achieve with this visit,” she told Maritime Review. “The department is supposed to provide reports on their assets on a three-monthly basis, but they seem to be struggling with asset management,” she said explaining that the trip had provided the committee with an opportunity to engage directly with one of these assets.

She expressed concern that government’s austerity measures may impact on the ability to maintain and manage the department’s fleet that extends to other research vessels as well as the patrol vessels under SAMSA Special Project’s management.

“We need to see the other vessels in the fleet,” she said noting that it was important to plan ahead to ensure that measures were put in place to replace or maintain the older vessels such as the Africana and Algoa.

As part of the oversight provided by the committee, Managa said that it was important to gain an understanding how assets such as the SA Agulhas II were benefitting the country and future generations.

“We rely on the findings of the Auditor General’s report to highlight issues that require attention or corrective measures,” she said adding that, despite representing different political parties, the members spoke with one voice on issues of governance.

Committee members also conduct their own research and use industry advisors to identify issues in more detail.

Welcoming the delegation of committee members as well as members of the media on board, Ashley Johnson, Director of Ocean Research at DFFE, highlighted the importance of South Africa’s geographic position in the Southern Ocean.

“Every country in the north wants to work with us,” he said describing the country’s coastline as the pulse for global ocean currents.

Johnson stressed the importance of collecting data over extended periods and motivated for continued investment in the country’s research bases as well as its fleet. “We need to track data over long periods of time to understand what is happening locally versus globally,” he said.

Noting the phenomenon of climate change, he urged the delegation to consider the need to understand the long-term impact that this could have on South Africa as a country – highlighting that global studies should not simply be transplanted into the local domain without an understanding of the particular elements that impact the region.

“If we don’t know what is happening in our own backyard, how will we adapt?” he asked as he emphasised the need to stay at the forefront of ocean research.

“We need to understand what is coming. It is pointless measuring it when it arrives,” he said as he urged the delegation to consider the need for resources and funding of the department’s efforts to maintain the country’s position as a leader in scientific research.

SOUTH AFRICA: After a four-week installation process to install a new marine excavator on the Italeni undertaken in Transnet National Port Authority’s dry dock in Durban, the grab hopper dredger is ready to resume services to maintain port depths and entrance channels.

After issuing a tender for the new excavator in August last year the contract to install and commission the new equipment was awarded to Liebherr Africa and represents an investment of about R76 million. The excavator was manufactured in Nenzing Austria before being transported to South Africa for installation on board the Italeni.

The installation of the new technology will boost dredging volumes and increase efficiency at South Africa’s commercial seaports. A marine excavator is a specialised technological machinery that is used to improve dredging operations while ensuring safe and sustainable practises of marine and coastal environments.

With an investment value of R76 million, the newly installed excavator is designed to grab dredged material weighing up to 2,000kg at a radius of at least 20 metres. The upgrade will enable the Italeni to efficiently handle dredged volumes of 150,000 cubic meters, a significant increase from its annual capacity from 94,000 m3.

The upgrade replaces the excavator fitted in 2014 that has reached its operational lifespan. This feature bolsters berth availability to meet the increasing demand of larger vessels calling into South African ports.

“The Italeni upgrade enables TNPA’s strategic intent of creating a smart port system through harnessing innovation and technology. Coupled with enhancing the dredger’s capability to dredge the ports to the required depth, the new marine excavator will ensure that our waterside infrastructure remains competitive by improving TNPA’s customer service offering,” said Phyllis Difeto Acting TNPA Chief Executive.

Italeni is the only dredging vessel in South Africa capable of accessing confined berths and quay walls, distinguishing the craft from the rest of TNPA’s dredging fleet necessary for maintenance work.

The installed machinery adheres to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) regulations and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) legislation regarding carbon emissions.

TNPA is currently assessing the condition of the old excavator, the Liebherr HS895, to determine whether it can be refurbished or will require scrapping.

If refurbishment is deemed appropriate, TNPA will approach the market to procure the necessary services. If the asset is to be disposed of, the disposal will be carried out in accordance with the company’s established disposal protocols.

Dredging capacity set to grow further

Having issued tenders for a cutter suction dredger in January 2024 and a grab Hopper dredger in July of the same year, Transnet National Ports Authority is set to grow its dredging capacity further. According to the TNPA these two tenders are still proceeding.

The tender for the grab hopper dredger issued in July includes specifications for a marine excavator capable of lifting an 8m3 bucket at a minimum radius of 20 metres. It should also have a hopper capacity of 750 m3.

SOUTH AFRICA: According to a Marine Information Notice issued by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) at the beginning of the month, the authority will begin a four-month auditing campaign in the fishing industry as of March to address safety issues in the sector.

In the notice, SAMSA note that they will provide vessels owners and operators with information as to when and which vessels need to be made available for auditing purposes.

The overall objective of the project is to assess the state of safety compliance of the South African commercial fishing fleet; identify gaps in compliance with national and international maritime regulations, and provide recommendations to enhance safety standards.

It will also evaluate the effectiveness of SAMSA’s inspection and survey regimes in terms of ensuring compliance of commercial fishing vessels.

Given the notable age of the commercial fishing fleet in South Africa, the auditing campaign also aims to identify risks related to vessel age, maintenance, crew training, and onboard safety equipment.

In addition, surveyors will be tasked with determining the technical and structural integrity of vessels against any relevant regulations as well as identifying and mitigating risks associated with stability assessments and stability documents.

Emergency preparedness and response measures will also be evaluated.

According to the Marine Information Notice, the audit will concentrate on fishing vessels that have been involved in maritime incidents or that have been identified based on previous audits and inspections. Companies that owned or operated vessels that have been lost will also come under scrutiny.

In addition, rivetted or wooden vessels as well as those registered prior to 1998 will be included in the audit programme.

SAMSA has also been instructed to develop a fishing vessel safety improvement plan aimed at minimizing future incidents and ensuring that fishing vessels meet the highest safety standards.