In South Africa’s largest local shipbuilding contract Transnet National Ports Authority has ordered nine new Voith Water Tractors for use in several ports across the country. This is also the largest order in the history of Voith marine technology. The VWT will be built by South African Shipyards in Durban over the next 42 months. Eight of the tugs will be identical in construction with a length of 31 meters and a beam of 12.5 meters. Propelled by two Voith Schneider Propellers VSP 32R5/265-2 with a power of 2 x 2,650kW they will have a bollard pull of 70 tons. The VWT will be utilized for harbor towage in the ports of Saldanha Bay, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Richard’s Bay.

Another VWT will achieve a bollard pull of more than 100 tons and therefore is one of the strongest ever equipped. Propelled by two VSP 36R6EC/285-2 it offers Transnet a wider escort envelope to protect the ecologically sensitive coastal areas of the West coast. Powered by 2 x 3,900kW it is 37.1 meters long and has a beam of 13.5 meters.

In addition to the VSP, the Voith scope of supply for each Water Tractor comprises two turbo couplings and two Renk couplings. The eight identical Voith Water Tractors will get a mechanical control system, the 100 tons bollard pull VWT will be equipped with a Voith electronic steering system. These components are to be delivered between 2015 and 2017. Furthermore Voith will provide local training, skills development and capacity building to Transnet employees.

This ensures to further optimize the safe and efficient utilization of the VWT fleet. Transnet manages all eight commercial seaports in South Africa and provides port infrastructure and marine services for the handling of the international freight traffic. To date, the company already operates 23 vessels with Voith Schneider Propellers. The first vessel has proven its reliability since entering service in 1972. Voith Turbo, a Group Division of Voith GmbH, is a specialist for intelligent drive solutions and systems. Customers from diverse industries such as oil and gas, energy, mining and metal processing, mechanical engineering ship technology, rail and commercial vehicles rely on advanced technologies from Voith Turbo.  

Voith sets standards in the markets energy, oil & gas, paper, raw materials and transportation & automotive. Founded in 1867, Voith employs more than 43 000 people, generates €5.7 billion in sales, operates in about 50 countries around the world and is today one of the largest family-owned companies in Europe. www.rsa.voithturbo.com

Voith Turbo (Pty) Ltd, established in South Africa in 1982, is a member of the worldwide Voith group of companies headquartered in Heidenheim, Germany. Voith Turbo (Pty) Ltd is active in the following market segments: Mining and Raw Materials Handling, Transportation (Road, Marine, Rail), Energy, Oil and Gas and Paper. The South African Head Office and main facility in Johannesburg, Gauteng, includes sales, workshops, stores and testing facilities. An extensive network of Voith representatives and distributors ensures sales, service and distribution coverage into the African continent, stretching as far north as Nigeria.