DURBAN port will soon take delivery of its first new tug – the sixth of nine powerful new vessels to roll off the production line in the port city on time and within budget.
Named Umbilo, the vessel was launched at an official ceremony in Durban on Friday, 26 May with Mayor Zandile Gumede, performing the ceremonial duty of Lady Sponsor to christen the vessel in line with maritime tradition.
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The new tug is part of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) R1.4 billion tug building contract awarded to Durban-based Southern African Shipyards – the largest ever awarded to a South African company for the building of harbour craft.
TNPA Chief Executive, Richard Vallihu, said the new tug was exactly what the Port of Durban needed.
“Over the past few years, the Port of Durban has seen larger vessels calling at the port. This has put a strain on our marine fleet. Currently the port has a total of eight tugs of which four are old shuttle tugs with only 32 and 38 ton bollard pull power,” he said.
The TNPA tug procurement project also complements the skills development programme currently underway through TNPA’s Maritime School of Excellence.
Speaking at the naming ceremony, Vallihu said it was essential to have well-trained people in place to support Transnet’s major drive to ramp up infrastructure and efficiency at South Africa’s ports. Transnet has set aside a record-breaking R7,7 billon for training over the next 10 years.
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The port authority will contribute in excess of R56 billion of capital expenditure under Transnet’s rolling R300 billion-plus Market Demand Strategy (MDS), which is now in its fifth year.
The nine tugs are being built for TNPA over three-and-a-half years, as part of a wider fleet replacement programme that also includes new dredging vessels and new marine aviation helicopters. The programme is aimed at improving operational efficiency in the ports.
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TNPA’s new fleet of nine tugs are each 31 metres long with a 70 ton bollard pull. They feature the latest global technology such as Voith Schneider propulsion which makes them highly manoeuvrable.
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