Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has appointed Shore Tension BV for the supply of 52 additional hydraulic tension mooring units to reduce port incidents and shipping delays due to adverse weather conditions.
TNPA said in a statement that the benefits of the installation of six units at the ports of Ngqura and Cape Town were already evident.
A hydraulic tension mooring unit is a system that is placed on the quayside to ensure the safety of docked vessels and mitigate the severity of long-wave effects on vessels. The units help to stabilise vessels during strong winds, adverse weather conditions, and high swells. The benefits also include minimised downtime and safety during operations.
TNPA project manager Takatso Maputle said the supply of additional units marked the authority’s commitment to making key investments in port infrastructure.
“This is a timeous intervention to improve vessel turnaround time, which is already well
received by our customers at the ports of Cape Town and Ngqura,” Maputle said.
Currently, the ports authority has four units at the Port of Cape Town and two at the Port of
Ngqura. An additional 52 shore tension units will be allocated to several ports currently facing excessive surge motions in excess of three metres high.
The allocation includes 16 units for the Port of Cape Town, 14 for the Port of Durban, eight for the Port of Port Elizabeth, six for the Port of Ngqura, four for the Port of Saldanha and four for the Port of Richards Bay.
South African Association of Ship Owners and Agents (Saasoa) CEO Peter Besnard said the association was “delighted” to learn that TNPA had heeded the call of the shipping industry to provide more hydraulic line tensioner mooring units.
“Our members are complimentary of the results and benefits derived from the existing units and have been calling for more to be procured. This is definitely a step in the right direction as these units certainly make a difference in reducing shipping delays and ensuring safe vessel working and operations at the ports,” Besnard said.
The first batch of four new units is expected to arrive on South African shores in October and will be split evenly to the ports of Ngqura and Cape Town. The delivery of the rest of the units will be staggered until early 2025.
TNPA said the initiative would also play a significant role in the skills development of Transnet employees through skills transfer from TNPA Marine Shorehands that will operate the units. Maintenance will be performed by Transnet Engineering teams.
