Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) on Monday unveiled the newest asset in its marine fleet – a locally built, R120-million multipurpose vessel (MPV) that will be commissioned at the Port of Cape Town in the coming weeks.
Constructed by Damen Shipyards in Cape Town, the 19-metre multi-functional seagoing vessel will play a vital role in port operations.
It will be used to remove marine debris, conduct maintenance dredging, perform quay-wall repairs, assist in lighthouse upkeep and carry out essential tasks such as fender replacement and minor dredging activities.
Named Yarona – a Setswana word meaning ours – the vessel represents a critical addition to Transnet’s marine capabilities and forms part of its broader marine fleet renewal programme.
Speaking at the christening ceremony at Damen Shipyards offices at the Port of Cape Town, Solly Letsoalo, group chief operating officer at Transnet, said the event was not only about blessing the vessel and its crew for safe and prosperous operations, but also marked a symbolic new beginning – reflective of Transnet’s current trajectory.
“Transnet has emerged from a period of recovery, where we focused on stabilising operations, addressing inefficiencies and laying the groundwork for a stronger business. We believe we have reached the bottom and from here, we can only go up,” said Letsoalo.
“We have now entered our ‘reinvent for growth’ phase, with the goal of positioning Transnet as an agile, competitive business that drives the South African economy.”
He added that to reinvent for growth was an infrastructure-led strategy aimed at enabling operational efficiency across Transnet’s rail, port and pipeline operations.
“We will continue to invest in the modernisation of our fleet and ensure fit-for-purpose infrastructure in order to meet the needs of our customers and support the broader South African economy.”
According to Sefale Montsi, director at Damen Shipyards Cape Town, the vessel was constructed with care and precision, not only to meet the current operational demands of TNPA, but also to anticipate future needs.
“This vessel has been designed with reliability and consistent performance in mind. It is built to withstand the toughest harbour conditions, year after year,” she said.
Rajesh Dana, Transnet acting managing executive for the Western region, said the chosen name of the vessel reflected a strong sense of ownership, symbolising that it belonged to the skilled mariners who will safely manoeuvre it each day.
“The name further embodies the shared values of unity and captures the spirit of collaboration,” he said, before handing over a cheque for R10 000 to Alice Mene, a finance manager at TNPA in Cape Town, who came up with the vessel’s name.
He added that the vessel, which features an all-welded steel hull and superstructure for enhanced durability in challenging harbour conditions, would significantly bolster capacity at the port.
“It will improve current response times when called upon by port users to remove navigation hazards, ultimately supporting safer and more efficient port operations,” he said.
