The Port of Cape Town has taken delivery of its powerful new tug USIBA which is set to boost marine efficiency at the port.
This is the seventh tug to be delivered in Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) R1.4-billion, nine-tug construction contract being executed by Durban ship builder Southern African Shipyards – the largest single contract TNPA has ever awarded to a South African company for the building of harbour craft.
TNPA port manager at the Port of Cape Town, Mpumi Dweba, said: “USIBA was originally intended for the Port of Richards Bay but since then adjustments in TNPA’s planning have seen USIBA deployed to Cape Town instead. We’re delighted as her presence in the port will better equip us to improve operational efficiency, speed up vessel turnaround times and assist the much larger commercial vessels now calling at our port.”
She said these ships required powerful tugs to push or tow them into port, adding that the new tug was 31 metres long with a 70-ton bollard pull.
The nine tugs are being built for TNPA over three years, with five under construction at any given time as part of a wider fleet replacement programme that also includes new dredging vessels and new helicopters.
