Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) announced last week that it would meet with customers to determine the best approach to introducing a new helicopter service at the Port of Cape Town.
“We will establish their level of interest and test whether the service cost would be acceptable,” said TNPA chief operating officer, Nozipho Mdawe. “We are also debating whether the service should be shared between the Western Cape ports or dedicated to one port.”
There are two options on the table. The first is to station one of the existing TNPA helicopters in Cape Town to service all Western Cape ports, and the second to partner with a private company to render helicopter services as the need arises.
Marine helicopter operations at the port were successfully trialled between 28 September and 5 October using a helicopter that usually services the Port of Durban.
“Richards Bay and Durban are the only ports in TNPA’s complementary port system that use helicopters to transfer marine pilots,” said Port of Cape Town harbour master, Alex Miya. “Our recent successful test exercise indicated that this was a viable service to offer at the Port of Cape Town.”
He noted that the new helicopter service would assist with operations during major swells and increase the availability of service during stormy conditions which have recently impacted negatively on port operations.
TNPA currently has a fleet of three helicopters and has procured two new aircraft valued at around R250 million to be delivered by June 2019.
Additionally, the Port of Cape Town has requested that the replacement of two tugs and two launches be brought forward to 2019/20, instead of 2020/21 as originally planned, in order to meet the port’s needs.
