Mooring units ordered to reduce weather related delays
Mitigating weather issues in port
SOUTH AFRICA: The first four hydraulic tension mooring units will arrive in October this year for use in the Ports of Cape Town and Ngqura with the remaining 48 units due to be delivered by the end of 2025.
Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has appointed Shore Tension BV for the supply of 52 hydraulic tension mooring units for the South African ports in an attempt to reduce incidents and shipping delays caused by adverse weather conditions.
Six units are already in use in Ngqura and Cape Town to stablise vessels alongside during strong winds, adverse weather conditions, and high swells. The benefits also include minimized downtime and safety during operations.
“The supply of additional units marks TNPA’s commitment to make key investments in port infrastructure. This is a timeous intervention to improve vessel turnaround time, which is already well- received by our customers at the ports of Cape Town and Ngqura,” said Takatso Maputle, TNPA Project Manager .
The acquisition of an additional 52 Shore Tension units will be allocated to various ports that are currently facing excessive surge motions at an excess of three metres high. The allocation includes 16 units for the Port of Cape Town, 14 for the Port of Durban, eight for the Port of Port Elizabeth, six for the Port of Ngqura, four for the Port of Saldanha and four for the Port of Richards Bay.
This initiative plays a significant role in the skills development of Transnet employees. Through the skills transfer by ShoreTension B.V., the units will be operated by TNPA Marine Shorehands whilst Transnet Engineering teams will carry out the maintenance of the same in South Africa.
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