The Port of Cape Town is set to introduce a helicopter service in 2021. According to harbour master Captain Alex Miya, this will significantly improve marine pilotage service out of the port which often struggles with heavy winds. Based in Cape Town, the helicopter would however be used at the Port of Saldanha and Mossel Bay if required, said Cape
Town port manager, Mpumi Dweba. The helicopter will be used to transfer marine pilots onto and off visiting vessels and will be the third such service in South Africa. The Ports of Durban and Richards Bay also use helicopters for pilot transfers. “We successfully completed a test exercise last year that indicated a helicopter service would be viable for Cape Town. This was coupled with
a fully fledged feasibility study and engagements with customers to determine the best approach.” He said high swells and heavy winds often resulted in pilots not being able to be transported to waiting vessels via tugboat, affecting operations at the various terminals. According to a Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) spokesman, an existing fleet of three ageing AgustaWestland (AW 109) helicopters are used to service the Ports of Durban and Richards Bay but through its fleet replacement programme it has procured two new helicopters with an estimated value of R250 million in total.
We successfully completed a test exercise last year that indicated a helicopter service would be viable for Cape Town. – Mpumi Dweba
