Ray Smuts THE PORT of Cape Town’s drive to establish a substantial southern hemisphere ship repair facility in the hands of private operators has attracted 23 local responses so far, says NPA manager planning and development Billy Cilliers. The deadline is set for January 6, 2004 for the first stage of proposal calls. This will enable the NPA to glean background data on interested parties relating to issues like their black empowerment policy and financial standing. There has been some international interest, too, but proposal calls aimed at overseas parties have yet to be advertised abroad. “We have a view of what is needed within the port but in terms of a Call for Proposal the people who will finance, build and operate the new facility will have to determine for themselves what they think will be acceptable.” A major current problem is that the 360-metre long, 45-metre wide, Sturrock Drydock - largest in the southern hemisphere - is often occupied by smaller vessels rather than larger ships for which it is actualy intended. While dismissing the suggestion of a second Stur- rock due to cost considerations, Cilliers believes another facility accommodating vessels presently using the 161-metre long Robinson Dock could make sense in catering specifically to smaller vessels. Development of the R11 million, 14,5ha, Port Industrial Park on the old Eskom site, a stone’s throw from the container terminal, is on track and should be open to business by March 2004.
