Transnet tug construction project continues
The Port of Cape Town's needs were assessed to be greater at this time than Richards Bay's
AS part of its R1.4-billion, nine-tug construction project, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) last week launched two new tugs.
Umkhomazi was launched in Durban and Usiba in Cape Town.
Originally destined for Richards Bay, Usiba was instead delivered to Cape Town which TNPA assessed to have a bigger need than the Bay.
‘One of the benefits of being a multi-port authority running a complementary port system, is that we are able to pool our resources between our ports and to adjust plans where necessary,’ said TNPA General Manager: Commercial and Marketing, Lauriette Sesoko.
‘Originally tugs were earmarked for the ports of Durban, Richards Bay, Saldanha and Port Elizabeth, in this order, where the needs at the time were assessed as being the greatest.
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‘However, we have since taken the decision to redeploy the seventh tug, Usiba, from Richards Bay to Cape Town instead.’
Sesoko said the Cape Town had recently experienced an upsurge in larger vessels requiring tugs with a more powerful bollard pull.
Richards Bay has received three new tugs in recent years.
‘TNPA has assessed and mitigated this risk to ensure that Richards Bay’s port operations are not compromised,’ said Sesoko.
‘In future orders where Cape Town is catered for, a tug will be reimbursed to the Port of Richards Bay.’
Sesoko assured that TNPA would continue to roll out its fleet replacement programme to best serve all its ports and their customers.
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