East London dry dock is back in business

Ed Richardson THE EAST London dry-dock is in full operation again after being closed for over five months because of flood damage. The dry-dock has been closed since the floods in August 2002. In the previous financial year 21 vessels made use of the dry-dock. While this has dropped to eight in the current financial year due to the damage, National Ports Authority spokesperson Terry Taylor says more ships are expected in the dock before the end of the financial year in March. The number of ships using the dry dock was also affected by a Unicorn container ship which was refitted over a period of two and a half months. Ships normally spend two to three weeks in the dry dock, according to Taylor.