The launch of the Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) Osprey tugboat in Durban harbour on Tuesday marked the halfway point in the port authority’s R1.4-billion tug-building contract.

Southern African Shipyards CEO Prasheen Maharaj said at the launch that the Osprey was tangible proof that South African shipbuilders could deliver technologically advanced, world-class products.

To date, two tugs – the Mvezo and Qunu – have been delivered to Port Elizabeth while a third, Cormorant, was delivered to Saldanha in August. It will be followed by the Osprey, which will be delivered in December once all technological checks have been carried out.

Each tug, valued at about R161-million, creates 500 direct jobs and an estimated 2 500 indirect jobs, according to Maharaj.

In line with maritime tradition, the official naming of the Osprey was carried out by a lady sponsor, Thandeka Mabija, the recently appointed human resources GM at TNPA.

“Southern African Shipyards is well on its way to delivering the remaining five tugs to TNPA within the timelines agreed upon,” said Maharaj, adding that the celebration of this milestone should act as motivation for other parastatals to continue to support the local shipbuilding industry.

TNPA COO Phyllis Difeto described the Osprey as “Operation Phakisa in action” and welcomed the fact that the overall project continued to proceed on time and within budget.

Difeto noted that the R1.4-billion tug contract was the largest single contract that the port authority had ever awarded to a South African company for the building of harbour craft.

Nine tugs will be built over a three-and-a-half-year period as part of a wider fleet replacement programme that covers tugs, new dredging vessels and new port helicopters. The programme, which is aimed at improving the operational efficiency of South African ports, forms part of TNPA’s R56-billion contribution to Transnet’s R300-billion Market Demand Strategy.

Difeto said that the ports of Durban and Richards Bay would be the recipients of the next four tugs to roll off the production line. These would be delivered at three-monthly intervals, with the last tug likely to be delivered in early 2018.

She added that the new tugs were necessary as larger vessels were calling at South African ports more often.

Each of the new TNPA tugs is 31 m long with a 70 t bollard pull, as opposed to the existing fleet of 29 tugs which have 32.5 t to 40 t pulls.

The increased bollard pull of these new-generation tugs meets international standards. They also feature the latest global technology, such as Voith Schneider propulsion, which makes them highly manoeuvrable and able to change direction and thrust almost instantaneously while guiding large vessels into port.

TNPA CEO Richard Vallihu, who could not attend the ceremony, said in a statement that the work of Southern African Shipyards, which has built four tugs of the nine tugs for TNPA, has helped cement the marine shipbuilding and support industry.

“Having a local manufacturer also promises excellent after-sales support for the 35-year service life of these vessels. Local shipbuilding expertise is exactly what the government’s Operation Phakisa initiatives aim to leverage in unlocking the potential of the oceans economy,” he said.