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Port Of Richards Bay News

17 Oct 2019

Port of Cape Town Boosts Tug Fleet

Photo: TNPA

Transnet National Ports Authority has redeployed a new tug to the Port of Cape Town, as Tug UMBILO went into service recently after being redeployed from the Port of Durban.Built in 2017, UMBILO was the sixth of nine new vessels to roll off the production line as part of $95 million tug construction contract being executed by Durban ship builder Southern African Shipyards. The Port of Cape Town also took delivery of tug USIBA last year, originally intended for the Port of Richards…

10 Oct 2017

Update: Transnet Refloats Vessel Grounded at Port of Durban Entrance

© djevelekova / Adobe Stock

One of three vessels that has grounded in the Port of Durban today due to inclement weather has been successfully refloated and remoored alongside. Port teams remain on scene attending to the remaining vessels. TNPA has also managed to contain containers that had blown into the bay. At this stage vessel movements in the Port of Durban remain suspended until futher notice. No severe disruptions have been reported thus far at the Port of Richards Bay. TNPA earlier invoked a Business Continuity Plan (BCP) at its head office and the Port of Durban to ensure that it manages the situation closely.

23 Aug 2017

Two New Tugs for KZN Ports

A tug spray from the Port of Durban’s new UMBILO tug while the Port of Richards Bay’s Usiba tug is lowered into the water in the background. (Photo: TNPA)

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) celebrated a twin milestone for its KwaZulu-Natal ports as part of its R1.4 billion ($106.3 million), nine-tug construction contract. On Thursday, 22 August the new USIBA tug was christened and named ahead of its delivery to the Port of Richards Bay, while the Port of Durban took delivery of its Umbilo tug which had been launched and named in May. The vessels are the sixth and seventh respectively to roll off the production line on time and within budget. All nine tugs are being built by Southern African Shipyards in Durban.

13 Feb 2017

TNPA: Five Tugs Done, Four More to Go

Photos courtesy of TNPA

Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) R1.4 billion tug building contract in Durban continues to create jobs and develop local marine capabilities, with the fifth of the authority’s nine new tugs launched this morning in Durban. The project is now 81% complete and still on track to deliver the ninth and final tug early in 2018, on time and within budget. Five tugs are under construction at any given time at the premises of contractor, Southern African Shipyards. Four are already delivered and at work in Port Elizabeth and Saldanha.

30 Apr 2015

TNPA’s Tug Project Going Full Steam Ahead

The first of TNPA’s nine tugs is about 35% complete and its hull and superstructure are 70% complete. The first tug is expected to be handed over in January 2016 (Photo: TNPA)

Transnet National Port’s Authority’s R1.4 billion contract to produce nine powerful tugboats is progressing on time and within budget at the Southern African Shipyards premises in Durban. “This is a milestone project that reinforces the capacity and skill of South Africa and indeed Durban when it comes to competing in the global shipbuilding industry,” said TNPA program manager Eugene Rappetti, Senior Manager for Marine Operations. “Despite the challenges of energy disruptions…

26 Mar 2015

Liebherr Opens African Maritime Hub

Photo courtesy of Liebherr Maritime

Liebherr Maritime Cranes celebrated the grand opening of the new sales and service center in Durban, South Africa. The new African maritime hub was opened by a number of guests from the local industry and Liebherr representatives. Mainly as a result of the close cooperation with Transnet over the past few years, Liebherr-Africa (LAF) has decided to extend its activities and to establish a specialized maritime hub in Durban. Transnet operates more than 60 Liebherr cranes, 13 mobile harbor cranes, 31 ship to shore container cranes and 18 rubber tyre gantry cranes.

21 Aug 2013

Bulk Carrier Abandoned Near Port of Richards Bay, S. Africa

Bulk Carrier 'Smart' aground: Photo credit NSRI

The 230m long, Panama-flagged bulk carrier 'Smart' with a full cargo of coal ran aground within a few hundred meters of South Africa's major coaling port of Richards Bay, and the crew (with pilot) were taken off by helicopter as the vessel's hull began to split apart in the heavy swell. Three Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) tug boats were in attendance of the outbound coal cargo ship 'Smart' on a shallow sand bank adjacent to the Port exit channel where they were attempting to pull the vessel free after she had grounded there in very rough seas and 10 meter high swells…

05 Mar 2012

WSS appoints new Ops Manager for AsiaPac

Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) has appointed Brendon Hawley as its new Regional Operations Manager for Asia Pacific. Based in Jakarta, Indonesia, he will be responsible for all operations throughout Indonesia reporting to GM  Cato Nordskog. Hawley said: “I am very much looking forward to becoming part of the Wilhelmsen Ships Service team within Asia Pacific and am excited about the challenges ahead. The region is one of growth and expansion and I am starting my role at a key time…

19 Sep 2002

Conditions Onboard Grounded RoRo Not So ‘Jolly’ for SMIT

Following yesterday afternoon’s helicopter evacuation of salvage personnel from the grounded Jolly Rubino, the team was flown out to the casualty again this morning in an attempt to gain access to the engine room. The situation onboard during the morning allowed for safe entry into this area, where yesterday smoke and excessive heat had made conditions unsafe for salvage personnel. The team commenced working in protective gear and with breathing apparatus in temperatures in excess of 100 degrees and were able to resume pumping operations in an attempt to clear the engine room of water as part of preparations for the fuel removal operation. The water, rather than being pumped overboard, was being used to cool the engine room bulkhead.

20 Sep 2002

SMIT Salvage team evacuated from Jolly Rubino

This morning a team of 16 salvage personnel boarded the 'Jolly Rubino' and pumping operations in the engine room continued. The water, rather than being pumped overboard, is being used to cool the engine room bulkhead as the onboard fire is still encroaching on this area. Working conditions in the engine room continue to be extremely difficult with excessive heat, poor visibility and intense smoke hindering progress. The salvage team are making use of breathing apparatus as well as protective clothing as a safety measure. Carbon Monoxide is being generated in the engine room as a result of the fire and readings taken this morning in this area by salvage personnel measured 12 times the maximum allowable limit.

24 Sep 2002

Weather Causes Delay For SMIT

An increase in the swell height being experienced in the vicinity of the grounded Jolly Rubino has prevented salvage personnel from connecting the oil transfer hoses to be used in the ship-to-ship transfer operation. The SMIT Salvage team report that swell height has been steadily increasing and is currently measured at 10-11 ft. It is expected that the current ground swell condition will continue for the next 3 days, delaying the beginning of the next phase of the fuel removal operation. Salvage personnel working in the engine room continue to pump the area of water to maintain low water levels in this space. A large quantity of accumulated sand is to be removed from the area in the engine room where the manifold (pipeline system) is located before hose connection can take place.

05 Aug 2003

Mzamo Named Port Manager at Port of Richards Bay

Hlubi Mzamo, new port manager of the Port of Richards Bay, did not expect to find himself at the helm of the port with the largest cargo volumes in South Africa when, he joined the National Ports Authority (NPA), as marine operations manager in Cape Town, 18 months ago. Mzamo had just settled down with his family in the Mother City, when the NPA, landlord and regulator of South African ports, informed him that he was being promoted to an even more responsible position. From sitting in his office, which overlooks the valuable Richards Bay Coal Terminal (RBCT), he modestly concedes that although the promotion was wholly unexpected, he is encouraged that his continuous hard work as marine operations manager was rewarded so quickly.