The Port of Ngqura has welcomed a state-of-the-art admin building and an administration craft basin for pilot boats and tugboats, including office facilities for operational staff.

Also included in the latest R700 million investment into the port is vacuum-based automated mooring technology.

Produced by global engineering group, Cavotec, the 26 mooring units were designed, custom manufactured and installed to meet specific environmental conditions including strong winds.

Port manager Mpumi Dweba says 154 jobs were created during the construction phases, with 48 of these jobs created for black youth. A further 285 Eastern Cape employees are also benefiting from skills development programmes associated with the projects while 16 small businesses in the province have been engaged to provide materials, equipment and services.

Construction of the R255 million administration building is well underway with completion targeted for the end of this year.

Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is pursuing a 4-Star Green Star SA rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa (GBCSA) for the building, which comprises a five-storey building with a basement level and external parking areas for 205 staff.

To date, Ngqura has operated without an administration craft basin for the docking of marine craft such as pilot boats and tugboats, as well as various vessels belonging to SAPS and SANPARKS.

The new R362 million administration craft basin located at the root of the eastern breakwater in the port basin will facilitate this process safely in line with Ngqura’s growing fleet of craft.

Construction of the administration craft basin is planned for completion at the end of the year. Dredging is underway and marine construction has commenced.

The design of the craft basin ensures that the wave climate and wave resonance within the basin remain within specified limits.

The tender evaluation process for the administration craft building began on 18 April 2016 and this building is planned for completion by mid-2017.

These developments are part of TNPA’s capacity installation programme, intended to increase the handling capacity of the port, as well as other port activities in future for South Africa.