Port chopper service to resume
Transformation not seen in chopper pilotage service – said TNPA
HELICOPTER pilotage services will resume at the Port of Richards Bay under a new service provider in three weeks’ time.
This was the assurance from Transnet National Ports Authority Chief Harbour Master Rufus Lekala responding to the Zululand Observer via a skype telephonic conference from Cape Town on Friday.
With helicopter marine pilot transfer operations grounded at the Port of Richards Bay since February, two pilot boats have been operating, transferring marine pilots to and from vessels entering and leaving the harbour.
This after the existing marine pilot ‘shuttle service’ contract held by Acher Aviation expired on 31 January.
Despite tenders called for in October having been awarded, TNPA has been mum on the new service provider.
Reiterating that chopper services would continue at the Port complementing pilot boats, TNPA would not divulge on Friday which company had won the tender.
‘The new service provider will be on site from 1 April. That is our promise and we will not deviate. We will have helicopters at both ports – they are not going anywhere. It is cost effective to have both operations – pilot boats and choppers – and we want to give a value added service that is beneficial to both TNPA and its users,’ said Lekala.
Responding to concerns that the delay in announcing the new operator was contributing to slower ship turnaround times, Lekala said in terms of Civil Aviation Authority regulation, they could not implement an immediate changeover.
‘The next service provider had to be properly assessed and licensed so we did not want to be on the back foot. This is a win-win situation. During the absence of the chopper service, we introduced two pilot boats to circumvent any inefficiency. We knew there would be certain glitches, weather prevailing, but we managed from an operational point of view.’
Lekala said a decision to review the outsourcing chopper contract arose following a thorough cost benefit analysis in 2011.
‘We realised there was no evidence of transformation seen in the 17 years the chopper service had been outsourced. As the executive committee of TNPA, we adopted a resolution to insource the helicopter operations on conclusion of the previous contract. We cannot do a big bang approach. We will adopt a diminishing approach where the future tenderer will, over a five-year period, hand over the chopper pilotage service to TNPA.
‘Since we are the owners of the helicopters, it is logical that we should fly and maintain them ourselves.’
Dismissing fears that TNPA aircraft could potentially be damaged after one of the choppers had been reportedly left outside the hanger in Richards Bay, Lekala said all assets were in ‘safe keeping’.
‘We often ground helicopters when doing major services. Whether they park in the garage or outside, they are robust machines and are designed to live for 15 years. They will not rust over a two month period. Our oldest helicopter is 13 years and has not fallen apart,’ said Lekala.
Read more here: Chopper delay frustrates port users
