Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has launched a multi-million rand refurbishment of the Port of Cape Town’s Robinson Dry Dock.
The refurbishment – aimed at improving infrastructure for ship repair and developing the country’s marine transport and manufacturing industry – includes the replacement of the floating caisson that seals off the dry dock from the basin and is expected to take over two years to complete.
According to the latest TNPA ports newsletter, the project will be completed in two stages. The first stage includes the design, manufacture, installation and commission of a new floating caisson, while the second involves repairs to the existing caisson in order to stabilise it for operations while the new one is under construction.
Additionally, the Robinson Dry Dock will be shut down annually for 30 days until the new caisson has been commissioned and the repaired caisson will be inspected and monitored regularly to ensure operational safety.
“Over the past two months, TNPA has continued to make headway in terms of its strategy, [however] there is still a lot of work to be done for us to become a world class ports authority,” said TNPA chief executive, Shulami Qalinge.
