Industry calls for action over Durban’s derelict floating dock

Durban’s derelict and idle floating dock has mobilised industry outrage with the SA Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (Saimena) challenging Transnet National Ports Authority to take practical action to return it to working order. The fact that the facility has been standing unrepaired and idle for four years has been an issue tabled by Saimena before the latest meeting of the city’s Port Consultative Committee (PCC). And this, in turn, means that the complaint has also been brought to the attention of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the body responsible for the currently derelict facility. The institute described the dock as being of strategic importance not just to Durban but to SA, and said that it had been out of commission, having failed a survey by the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa). “Tenders were sought for further repairs from small contractors and repairs were subsequently very drawn out,” the institute added “Then a fire in the control room necessitated more repairs, which we understand are under way. In the interim TNPA small craft have been obliged to use the graving dock and have shut out international customers in the process. “(We) are of the opinion that TNPA should be maintaining these facilities to attract international repair work, enabling local industry, large and small, to earn a living. The loss of earnings and jobs over the past four years must run into many millions.” The four-year stand-down has been a frustrating time for the city’s shipbuilding and repair industry, according to Rob Deane, MD of Elgin, Brown and Hamer. And, although TNPA has apparently again contracted a company for repairs to the dock, he expressed himself somewhat sceptical about whether this would prove successful. “From past history I’d doubt it,” he told FTW. “Work over the period has been contracted out to a number of different small companies, but never completed. It is disgraceful that the TNPA should put that amount of money into on-going repairs, but have nothing to show for it after four years.” The SA Institute agreed. “The appointment of small contractors has contributed to effectively delaying the necessary repairs,” it said, “and if TNPA still requires further repairs to be carried out then these repairs should be awarded to one of the larger ship repair companies to speed up completion.”