https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Tug building project, South Africa

20th November 2015

By: Sheila Barradas

Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

Name and Location
Tug building project, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Client
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

Project Description
The project involves the construction of nine tugboats, including the world’s most powerful tugboat, over the next four years.

Eight of the tugs will be 31 m long and 11.5 m wide, with almost double the pulling power of the tugs currently used at South Africa’s ports.

The most powerful tug in the world will be 42 m long and 15 m wide, with a bollard pull of 100 t.

The new fleet of tugs, produced by Durban-based Southern African Shipyards, will replace ageing tugboats at the ports of Durban, Port Elizabeth, Richards Bay and Saldanha.

The ports of Durban, Richards Bay and Port Elizabeth will each be allocated two tugs, while the Port of Saldanha, which handles the largest carriers and has a history of vessel groundings, will receive three tugs.

Value
The order is estimated at a little under R1.5-billion.

Duration
The first tug is expected to be handed over at the beginning of 2016 and the last in the first quarter of 2018.

Latest Developments
The first tugboat of TNPA’s R1.4-billion tug building programme was launched at the Durban premises of contractor Southern African Shipyards on November 12.

The 31-m-long Mvezo, named after late President Nelson Mandela’s birth town, will be handed over to the Port of Port Elizabeth in February 2016. The handover of more tugboats will be undertaken every three months until the last tugboat is launched in early 2018.

“This is the largest single contract TNPA has ever awarded to a South African company for the building of harbour craft. This demonstrates that the country has the expertise to compete in the global shipbuilding industry and use the maritime economy to unlock the economic potential of South Africa, in line with government’s Operation Phakisa [Oceans Economy] initiative,” TNPA CEO Richard Vallihu has said.

The tug building project started in August 2014 and will provide a significant boost for the local economy over its 42-month life span. Given the project’s tight deadlines, five tugs will be under construction simultaneously.

The tugs used Voith Schneider propulsion, which allows for manoeuvrability, thereby resulting in an almost instantaneous change of direction and thrust while guiding large vessels safely into the ports.

Subcontractors on the project included Barloworld Equipment, Siemens, Voith Schneider, as well as local contractors Bradgary Marine Shopfitters.

The project has created five-hundred direct and 3 500 indirect jobs.

In addition, a number of national and international training and development opportunities are being created for local employees, with TNPA set to send employees to Germany for training on the new propulsion units. They will also receive training locally for four to six weeks.

TNPA also has a significant training programme in place for engineering and deck cadets to ensure there were skilled people to operate the vessels.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
Southern African Shipyards (tugboat construction), Barloworld Equipment, Siemens, Voith Schneider, as well as local contractors Bradgary Marine Shopfitters (subcontractors).

On Budget and on Time?
The project is on time and on budget.

Contact Details for Project Information
Transnet National Ports Authority, tel +27 11 351 9023 or fax +27 11 351 9001.

 

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Comments

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Magni SA
Magni SA

Magni SA is committed to developing the safest Telehandlers available to our customers for underground and surface mining, construction, forestry,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.095 0.149s - 159pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now