Two new tugboats launched by Transnet

Last Friday saw the official
launch of two more tugboats
built for Transnet National
Ports Authority (TNPA).
Named Qunu and
Cormorant, they form part
of TNPA’s R1.4-billion
contract awarded to Durban
ship builder, Southern
African Shipyards. It’s
the largest single contract
TNPA has ever given to a
South African company
for the building of harbour
craft.
Linda Mabaso,
chairperson of Transnet
SOC Limited, officially
named the vessels.
Qunu will be allocated to
the port of Port Elizabeth
alongside her sister tug,
Mvezo. Cormorant is
destined for the Port of
Saldanha in July.
The large-scale project
will see two tugs each
allocated to the Ports of
Durban, Richards Bay
and Port Elizabeth, while
Saldanha, which handles
the largest carriers, will
receive three tugs. There will
be handovers every three
months until the last tug is
launched in early 2018.
CAPTION
Transnet chairman Linda Mabaso at the official launch of two new tugs in Durban last week.