'Unconventional' tug will double as pilot in EL

A NEW form of 'tug' entered service at the Port of East London last week with the delivery of Portnet's new workboat Tristan Tern.
The 19,5 metre harbour vessel arrived under her own power on delivery from her Cape Town builders and will enter into full tug service in the river port. East London presently has two conventional tugs in service, the Imonti and Mtwalume, along with a dedicated pilot boat, the Orient.
There are, however, no plans at present to divert one of the other tugs away from the port, at least until the Tristan Tern, named for a sea bird found off the east coast, has been settled in.
The new workboat has been designed to operate as a pilot boat in addition to normal tug duties, but has the advantage of being able to operate with different manning and qualification levels to her conventional sisters.
Meanwhile, Portnet reports that the dry dock at East London has been experiencing busy times, with something like 90% occupancy at present.
Last week two of the largest ever vessels to use the dock were in dock together, a Russian trawler the Eysk, and a Mauritian cargo freighter, Beaulieu.
BY TERRY HUTSON