Tugs under construction

Southern African
Shipyards’ R400-m contract
to build five mammoth
tugs simultaneously for the
National Ports Authority
is under way, with the first
destined for Coega to be
launched in July 2009.
Locally designed, the
size and capability of these
tugs make them the most
powerful harbour tugs in
the country and will enable
the NPA to meet the needs
of larger container ships at
Coega and Durban when
the harbour mouth
is widened.
The shipyard is currently
involved in an open tender
for another eight 70-ton
bollard pull tugs for various
ports around the coast. “If
that comes off it will keep
us building until the end
of 2012,” said Prasheen
Maharaj, financial director
Southern African Shipyards.