The Sturrock Dry Dock in the Port of Cape Town has seen increased ship repair activity and is gearing up for more of the same, says the Cape Town port manager, Sipho Nzuza.
The mining vessel mv Debmar Atlantic, owned by De Beers Marine Namibia, recently underwent routine work at the dry dock, carried out by contracting firms.
Built in 1978, the vessel features its own on board diamond processing plant. During the mining process gravel bearing diamonds is airlifted from the seabed to the vessel. The gravel and water is de-aerated before entering the processing plant. The material then goes through various stages and processes before the diamonds are recovered.
The dry dock was also the site of recent repairs to the deep water field development ship (FDS) SAIPEM FDS 2 owned by Saipem (Portugal) Comercio Maritimo (SPCM). The work was carried out by DCD Marine, Cape Town. SAIPEM FDS 2 was designed and built to assist in the construction of subsea infrastructure, connecting oil production platforms with refineries on shore.
“The Port of Cape Town has been earmarked as one of the important hubs for the delivery of government’s Operation Phakisa initiatives aimed at supporting the growth of the local ship repair, ship building and oil and gas sectors,” said Nzuza.
To take advantage of opportunities in the ship repair and offshore oil and gas sectors, TNPA intends to refurbish the Syncrolift facility which is situated in the Victoria & Albert Waterfront precinct. The authority will also replace water circulating pumps at the Sturrock Dry Dock.
