Dredger Italeni, the new scoop
New dredger will make its entry to the East Coast from Bulgaria this month.
TRANSNET National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) newly built grab hopper dredger will soon dig into maintenance work on Richards Bay’s port channels and other harbours nationwide.
Dubbed Italeni at a naming ceremony in Bulgaria on Wednesday, the vessel was named after a historical battle near the Ithala Mountains, where Zulu King Dingane defeated the Voortrekkers in 1838.
The dredger is expected to sail under her own keel to Durban at the end of this month.
IHC Merwede, a global dredging equipment manufacturer, built the 750m3 vessel after a contract for its design, construction and delivery was signed between TNPA and IHC Global Production (part of IHC Merwede) on 29 January last year.
According to TNPA, the 62-metre long and 15-metre wide Italeni has been designed and built to achieve low maintenance costs.
It will replace the current grab hopper dredger, Crane, which was recently equipped with a new grab crane.
New equipment will also be transferred to the Italeni after her arrival in South Africa.
‘Compliant with our strategic objectives, the new dredger will ensure that we have capacity ahead of demand, and provide spare dredging capacity for neighbouring ports,’ said TNPA Chief Executive Tau Morwe.
‘This collaboration is in line with TNPA’s Africa Strategy.’
IHC Merwede’s Dredging Division Managing Director, Fer Tummers, revealed it also plans to build a massive 5,500m3 dredger for SA’s ports.
‘This will be the largest vessel of its kind to operate in South Africa and a sign of our continuing successful cooperation,’ said Tummers.
‘As part of our ongoing commitment to the TNPA, IHC Merwede is glad to be participating in economic developments in South Africa by implementing a Supplier Development Plan to help improve local industry.
‘This initiative will include the transfer of some of our knowledge and advanced technology to enhance the skills of the workforce within the region.’
