Hope floats for new ship repair facility

NOW that the dust has settled around Richards Bay’s failed dry dock saga, the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) confirmed grapevine rumours in town that it is looking into a floating ship repair facility for the harbour.

TNPA said they have already appointed a consultant to determine if the floating dock is a viable option for the local port.

‘TNPA has identified possible projects to the value of around R900-million as part of our planned Operation Phakisa investments,’ said TNPA Infrastructure Department’s Port Planning and Development Manager, Lindokuhle Mkhize.

‘There is potential for the existing under-utilised ship repair facility to be refurbished to bring it in line with international standards.

‘There is also the potential for the installation of a floating dock.

‘A Transaction Advisor has been appointed to conduct an analysis of these possible projects and to guide the process going forward.’

If all goes to plan, TNPA may be required to deepen the small craft harbour’s channel depth to 14 metres for the refurbishment of the current repair quay and the installation of the floating dock.

Dry dock disaster

Richards Bay is the deepest harbour in SA and the country’s closest port of call for ships arriving from the East, capable of accommodating Capesize vessels.

This is why local business and government leaders were infuriated by Transnet’s decision to declare the original dry dock tender null and void, despite the fact that the memorandum of understanding had already been signed for the R3.5-billion facility at the BRICS conference in Durban in 2013.

Prominent local businessman Frans van der Walt said he can only hope plans for a floating dock gets better traction than the previous project.

‘The dock would absolutely be great to have for a growing port and would undoubtedly result in downstream economic opportunities.

‘There is substantial land that could be freed up for the downstream opportunities to grow and develop.

‘But the only way that the dock would actually happen is if it is left to the private sector.’

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