TNPA allocates R98m for floating caisson at Sturrock Dry Dock

Following discussions among the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT), Wesgro, industry and strategic partners with Transnet National Port Authority (TNPA), a R98m floating caisson will be constructed for the Sturrock Dry Dock in the Port of Cape Town. The new caisson forms part of a multi-million-rand overhaul of the port’s ship repair facilities over a three-year period (2019-2022) under South Africa’s Operation Phakisa Programme, which has identified ship building and repairs as a strategic industry for the port. A caisson - which is a large steel gate structure that acts as a secondary seal and subdivides the dock and allows for simultaneous docking of multiple commercial vessels within the facility - is expected to double the productivity of Sturrock. South Africa ranks among the world’s top 15 shipping nations, based on the tonnage transported to and from its ports, with three of the eight major commercial ports based in the Western Cape. Further to this, the province is the production hub of the South African ship building industry and is home to the country’s largest luxury yacht builders, Robertson and Caine and Southern Wind. In addition to this, it is estimated that around 68% of commercial boat yards are located in the Western Cape. Although the majority of marine manufacturing capacity is located in and around Cape Town, boat yards have also been established in St Helena Bay, Velddrif, Saldana Bay, Swellendam, George and Knysna. Employing 4,000 people, contributing R1.5bn to the provincial economy in 2017 - 95% of manufactured products in the sector are exported with Cape Town identified as the second biggest exporter of Catamarans. Job creation “The introduction of a caisson that can now allow for multiple docking of commercial vessels allows for Sturrock Dry Dock to significantly increase ship repairing capacity, which will facilitate job creation. The total value of turnover of provincial ship repairs in 2016 was estimated at around R2.2bn, revealing the potential for significant economic gain to the province through investment of updating the dock facilities,” said Wesgro CEO Tim Harris. “Trade is the life blood of the economy. R1.73bn of goods enters and leaves South African ports every year. About 30,000 ships passes South Africa’s coastline annually and 12,000 of them make calls into our ports. Many of these vessels require services like repairs and maintenance which represents a significant opportunity for jobs. The marine vessel fabrication, repairs and maintenance employed 10,280 people in 2017. A constraint to job growth in this sector is a dearth of suitable infrastructure to service these vessels. The, Western Cape Government welcomes and appreciates the R98m budgeted by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) for the construction of the floating caisson in the Sturrock Dry Dock at the Port of Cape Town. This investment by the TNPA will facilitate the creation of hundreds of direct and indirect jobs required to service vessels in the port,” explained Solly Fourie, head of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Kubota RTV-X900 delivers deep underground

Image
[Johannesburg, 30 May 2017]: With a rich founding history of gold and diamond mining, South Africa remains a leader in deep underground mining as well as safety in this arena, making the transfer of equipment and goods underground a task with little margin for error. Enter the Kubota RTV-X900. While the tasks involved in a successful mining operation are manifold, one of these is being able to move equipment, technicians and supplies from the shafts to the rock face; everything inside these tunnels must be brought from the surface. Due to the layout of a deep level mine, which could include many hundreds of kilometres of tunneling fanning out from the shafts and leading to the surface, this transfer is hugely complex and potentially very hazardous. In years past, the task of transporting goods from the surface underground and vice versa was carried out using a ‘cage’, from which the mining paraphernalia would either be physically carried or transported by wheeled trolleys to its po
Read more

SKF Ultrasonic leak detector - Quick and easy detection of air leaks TKSU 10

Image
The SKF TKSU 10 is an ultrasonic leak detector that helps users to quickly find leakages in compressed air or vacuum systems. The instrument is very simple to use and features adjustable sensitivity and intuitive guidance for superior leak detection results. Any compressed air system can experience leaks, which amplify the load on compressors and increase costs. The TKSU 10 helps users to easily find leaks from a distance, even in noisy industrial environments, via its ultrasound measurement sensor. The built-in LED display assists the user in adjusting sensitivity and shows the measured ultrasound noise from leaking air, allowing the quantification of leaks and prioritisation of repairs. It is easy to use and no training is required. The leak detection can be done from a distance in noisy industrial environments. The colour LED display assists in adjusting sensitivity settings and shows measurement values. The unit reduces energy and maintenance costs via leak identification an
Read more

Atlas Copco and Skills Development Corporation giving hope to the disabled

Image
In a bid to contribute to the much-needed skills development and work experience of disabled people, Atlas Copco South Africa partnered with the Skills Development Corporation (SDC) 12 months ago on 4 April 2017. Atlas Copco recognises the daily challenges the disabled face both in their private lives as well as in the business world. The 12-month initiative gave a number of leaners aged between 20 and 28 the opportunity to receive skills development while simultaneously obtaining valuable experience in the work place. The learning programme, hosted at Atlas Copco House in Jet Park, Boksburg, offered learners practical work experience from Monday to Thursday; every Friday learners attended lectures in General Business Management conducted by SDC Facilitator, Nozibusiso Nkosi. “We take pride in working with our future generation, teaching them the fundamental ins and outs of a corporate setting and at the same time boost their self-esteem and much needed confidence to pursue their ca
Read more