AFTER SEVERAL false alarms, the proposed new dry dock at Richards Bay is back on track, according to port manager Glen Martin. Plans for the latest proposal have been signed by the engineers and provided the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) concurs, work could start early next year.
When the new dock was first proposed more than a year ago, it was intended to build it adjacent to the coal terminal. However, the ground base proved unsuitable resulting in the site not being cost-effective. As a result several other sites were then identified. The area now earmarked for this half-billion rand development is on the site originally identified for a container terminal, situated between the small craft harbour and the dry bulk terminal.
According to Martin only an EIA is now holding things up, after which it is hoped that construction of Africa's first really large modern dry dock can get underway. Of special interest is that the new dockyard will occupy nearly 28 ha of ground and will have two drydocks, one measuring 300 x 52 metres and the other 220 x 38 m. Repair quays and workshops will complete the development by private enterprise.
The larger of the two drydocks should be capable of accepting vessels of up to 350 000 tons in size.
