Portnet brings on floating bulldozer to clean up Durban harbour

PORTNET'S LATEST and smallest vessel was commissioned last week in Durban.
She is the Udoti, which is Zulu for 'pollution' or 'rubbish', and has been purchased for pollution control in the harbour.
The minute craft, which nevertheless cost an impressive R1,4 million, is a special design capable of scooping up and disposing of debris found floating in the harbour.
Durban has a major problem from pollution in the form of juba boxes, cardboard, food wrappers, soft drink cans and similar matter that enters Durban Bay daily from about 56 separate storm water drains. Removal of this litter has proved a major problem and a visual eyesore in the harbour.
Udoti was built and supplied by a British company which markets the craft worldwide as the 'Water Witch'. The 180 horsepower, self-propelled, one-man vessel, which looks like a floating bulldozer, can operate in all small hard-to-get-at corners of the port, and can also be equipped with an oil skimmer to deal with oil spills. Collected matter is placed into skips strategically placed around the harbour.
According to Bax Nomvete, Durban's port manager, the Udoti is small but capable of big things. This shows people that we are concerned with our environment, he said. Portnet wants to work with the city and this boat is a statement in itself.
It is understood that Portnet is also considering a similar vessel for Cape Town.
BY TERRY HUTSON