Port of Durban next for new Transnet tug
The tug Umkhomazi, meaning “place of cow whales” in isiZulu, will serve at the Port of Durban.
![CEO of Southern African Shipards, Prasheen Maharaj, TNPA GM: Commercial and Marketing of Umkhomazi, Lauriette Sesoko, and port manager: Port of Durban Moshe Motlohi, with the port’s new Umkhomazi tug.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/51/2017/12/48lbtug_13226.jpg)
TRANSNET National Ports Authority (TNPA) launched its penultimate tug as part of its R1.4 billion, nine-tug construction contract, at Southern African Shipyards recently.
Umkhomazi, meaning “place of cow whales” in isiZulu, will serve at the Port of Durban. All nine tugs are being built by Southern African Shipyards in Durban.
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Umkhomazi follows the port’s tradition of naming its marine fleet after local rivers. She is named after the river on Kwa-Zulu Natal’s South Coast, also known as the Mkhomazi or Umkomaas – a moniker given by the Zulus in reference to large numbers of whales once using the estuary as a nursery.
Friday’s event also saw the handover to TNPA of the seventh tug, Usiba, which was named and launched in August. Usiba was delivered to the Port of Cape Town.
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