Richards Bay port finally gets its wings

AFTER A delay of nearly two years, the pilot service helicopter at the port of Richards Bay has finally been replaced with a new R40 million aircraft, an Agusta A109 similar to the previous machine. The cost excludes that of running the aircraft. The previous helicopter in service at Richards Bay crashed two years ago while lifting a marine pilot from a ship sailing from the harbour, causing the death of the winchman and severely injuring the marine pilot. The Agusta was later recovered but declared a total wreck and the port has since been forced to resort to using the time-honoured method of a pilot boat. Transnet has come under strong criticism for the time taken to replace the helicopter, but according to the TNPA one of the options following the crash was to locate a ‘fit for purpose’ helicopter which could be made available in a lead time less than the usual 12 to 14 months for a new machine. Despite a few proposals being made by aircraft suppliers, none of these met the TNPA helicopter service requirements. The other option of finding a chopper to hire was abandoned because of the customised nature of the pilot transfer aircraft. “The interim measure of using the pilot-boat to transfer the marine pilots has attracted a lot of criticism from the clients, who have benefited from the efficiencies and effectiveness of the helicopter service since inception ten years ago. The clients demanded the restoration of the helicopter services at our earliest convenience,” said a port spokesperson.