Transnet National Ports Authority is building a new multi-purpose vessel to increase marine fleet availability in the Port of Cape Town.
In keeping with the marine tradition of legacy finance for vessel and crew, a keel-laying ceremony was held in Cape Town to mark the start of construction of the new vessel on Friday.
As the first milestone in the history of a ship, the keel-laying ceremony marks the laying of the large beam around which the hull of a ship is built. In line with this tradition, the Mandela Peace Prize coin was placed underneath the keel, a tradition believed to invite good fortune during construction and the life of the ship.
Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) won the tender for the designing, manufacturing and commissioning of the vessel which will be delivered to TNPA by February 2025.
Speaking at the ceremony, TNPA Regional Manager for Operational Performance and Oversight at Western Region Ports, Captain Vernal Jones said: “The ongoing investment in reliable port infrastructure is the creation of new assets to enable economic activity in the region, and will further ensure smooth operation at the port.”
The acquisition of the new vessel forms part of TNPA’s strategy to increase the efficiency of its marine fleet and it replaces the pollution control vessel, which has reached its operational lifespan. Over the past few years, the pollution control was confined to collecting debris, small-scale dredging in rivers, and performing maintenance work. However, the new vessel will be built with several additional capabilities.
DSCT Managing Director, Jos Govaarts, said the project would contribute to skills development of local artisans.
“DSCT is proud to be building the ship together with the local maritime industry. It creates and sustains jobs, allows us to continue training artisans on the job, and for collaboration with co-makers, which actively contributes towards a future-proof maritime industry,” said Govaarts.
Once operational, the new vessel will require additional crew, including two seafarers’ deck, an able seafarer engine, a skipper and a marine engineering officer.
