First facility for Capesize vessels
TERRY HUTSON
THE MUCH-talked about dry dock and ship repair facility for deep draught ships at the port of Richards Bay came closer last week with the awarding of a preferred bidder status to a Chinese/South African Black Economic Empowerment consortium to build and operate the facility.
The Imbani Consortium, comprising eight members, last week presented an overview of the project at the port. Their proposal remains subject to an environmental impact assessment and a full feasibility study.
Subject to this meeting, with approval by the relevant authorities and the National Ports Authority, the project could be commissioned for service by the second half of 2007, giving South Africa facilities to handle repairs to Capesize vessels for the first time.
The Chinese component of the consortium includes the Ninth Design and Research Institute, which has designed 17 shipyards and dry docks throughout China.
