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 about R1.5-billion.

Duration
The first tug was launched in November 2015, with the last expected to be handed over in the first quarter of 2018.

Latest Developments
The latest of the TNPA’s nine new tugboats will set sail from the Durban premises of contractor Southern African Shipyards this month, destined for its new home in Port Elizabeth.

The tug was ceremonially launched in May as Qunu – named after the Eastern Cape home village of former President Nelson Mandela – alongside a third tug, Cormorant.

This is the second of two new tugs built for the Port Elizabeth port as part of the TNPA’s large-scale fleet replacement project. Qunu will be handed over officially to the port in the coming weeks.

The first tug, Mvezo – named after the birthplace of Mandela, in the Eastern Cape – was unveiled at the port by President Jacob Zuma in April.

The tug building project started in August 2014 and five tugs are under construction simultaneously at any given time, owing to the project’s tight deadlines.
 
Key Contracts and Suppliers
Southern African Shipyards (tugboat construction); Barloworld Equipment, Siemens, Voith Schneider, local contractors Bradgary Marine Shopfitters (subcontractors), and Aveng Grinaker-LTA (mechanical and electrical contracts).

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

Contact Details for Project Information
TNPA, tel +27 11 351 9023 or fax +27 11 351 9001.