The detail design for the refurbishment of the 500-ton Mossel Bay slipway and sideslip facility is currently underway following the appointment of a service provider by Transnet National Ports Authority.

According to acting Port Manager at the Port of Mossel Bay, Vania Cloete, the design by Lodemann Holdings is expected to be ready by June/July 2018.

“Thereafter TNPA will request capital funding for the execution stage of the facility. All Operation Phakisa projects nationally are expected to be operational by the end of 2019,” she said.

The project, which is part of accelerated port investments that fall under government’s Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiative, will see the refurbished facility cater primarily for fishing vessels.

The Port of Mossel Bay’s slipway was constructed in the early 1930’s and comprises a concrete slipway with two side slips and lead in jetties.

The operation still uses the original end haul action in which vessels are supported on a wooden cradle hauled up the inclined slipway on three rails and supported by stacked wooden blocks. Over the years the wooden elements have deteriorated.

Something old and something new

A preliminary investigation was carried out during 2015/16 where the most feasible options were identified.

The intention is to upgrade the facility to its original capacity while at the same time introducing more modern ways of operation. This will further reduce any safety risks to staff and service providers working at the facility.

The port’s slipway refurbishment is expected to create about 10 to 20 jobs during construction and 3 to 5 for operations. More accurate numbers will be available once the detail design of the facility has been completed.

TNPA has committed a budget of R2.1 billion nationally to maintain and refurbish existing ship repair facilities in the ports of Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Mossel Bay and Cape Town within the Operation Phakisa timeframe to 2019.