New tugs taken into service in Maputo

Two new purpose-designed 60-ton bollard pull tugs have been taken into service by the Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC). MPDC Chief Executive Officer Osorio Lucas says the two tugs, the Sereia and the Bulani, represent a total investment of around US$ 15 million. They are operated by P & O Maritime, which in 2012 won the contract to provide MPDC with marine services including pilotage, mooring services and the crewing and maintenance of tugs, pilot boats and mooring craft. The new tugs are part of a US$1.8-billion port master plan which will see the port’s handling capacity increase to 50 million tons a year by 2033. Maputo and neighbouring Matola will be focusing on bulk. The largest investments will be the expansion of the Matola coal terminal (US$834m), expansion of the container terminal (US$300m), and the construction of a new bulk cargo terminal (US$110m). This will see Maputo capacity increased from 12 million tonnes of cargo to 20 million tons a year by 2033. Capacity at Matola is expected to quadruple, from 7.3 to 30 million tons, most of which will be coal. According to the MPDC volumes through the port have grown by 260% from the five million tons in 2003 to 17 million tons in 2013. Over the same period the MPDC has invested US$362 million. Improvements include the dredging of the access channel from nine to 11 metres to cater for vessels of up to 60 000 deadweight tonnes.