Construction of Transnet’s new bed leveller (plough tug) is underway and was marked by an official keel laying ceremony in Port Elizabeth recently.
The new plough tug, which is being designed, manufactured, assembled, commissioned and delivered to TNPA’s Dredging Services division by shipbuilder FTC Engineering, trading as Tide Marine Shipyard, is the latest acquisition in Transnet National Port Authority’s (TNPA) Dredging Services’ R2 billion-plus fleet renewal programme. As the first milestone in the history of a ship, the keel laying ceremony marks the laying of the large beam around which the hull of a ship is built.Creating a world-class fleet
Hamilton Nxumalo, TNPA General Manager: Infrastructure and Port Planning, says the new vessel is the first of its kind to be built for TNPA in South Africa. “Catering for larger commercial vessels in our ports requires a world-class dredging and marine fleet – and South African shipbuilders continue to demonstrate their expertise in producing vessels that can compete with the global industry,” he notes. Carl Gabriel, Executive Manager for TNPA’s Dredging Services, adds: “Dredging Services’ R2 billion-plus fleet renewal programme, has already seen delivery of some of the continent’s most powerful dredging vessels in recent years.
“The plough tug is used as a bed leveller, smoothing out high spots created by marine traffic in the high-volume berth areas. This is a critical activity in keeping the ports’ berths to their promulgated depths,” he explains.
