Invaluable experience on tug contract for freshly qualified marine engineers
THREE newly-qualified chief marine engineering officers, who will soon be working in the Port of Durban, have been receiving a unique experience “that would be hard to come by elsewhere”.
Richard Vallithu, the chief executive of Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), said this yesterday when he introduced the trio at the launch of the latest tug to come off the production line.
The three men – Mlungisi Ngema from Soweto, Ntuthuko Tshabalala from Vryheid and Prince Zulu from Nongoma – have been taking part in Transnet’s ambitious skills development programme to beef up marine resources and to support the port’s transition from a four-tug to a six-tug operation.
They were among of a group of engineers who have had the chance to hone their practical skills during the construction of several of the nine tugs being built for TNPA by Southern African Shipyards (SAS) in Durban in a R1.4-billion contract.
The fifth 31m-long tug – called Ukhozi (Zulu for eagle) – was launched yesterday, with the rest of the contract due to be finished early next year.
Ukhozi is the first of four earmarked for KZN ports.
Vallithu told guests that the three new chief marine engineer officers had “benefited immensely” from exposure gained through working on the tug contract.
“They have spent months right here on site, and have had interactions with the drawing office, welding site, materials dispatch, design and specifications and commissioning processes.
“The sheer scale of this construction and engineering project has equipped these promising marine engineers with the technical problem-solving insight that would be hard to come by elsewhere.”
Integrity
They are now responsible for upholding the mechanical integrity of the port’s fleet of tugs, he said.
Transnet has earmarked a record-breaking R7.7 billion for training over the next 10 years, Vallithu said.
The tug project is part of a wider fleet replacement programme that covers tugs, new dredging vessels and new marine aviation helicopters.
The latest tug, which was delivered on time, within budget and within specification, is destined for Richards Bay, which has smashed several performance records.
It is the leading port in terms of cargo volumes, recently handling its highest volume ever of 99.2 million tons and servicing 2 000 vessel arrivals for the first time in its history, representing 4 000 vessel movements, Vallithu said.
Thanking TNPA for supporting the South African shipbuilding industry, Prasheen Maharaj, the chief executive of SAS, pointed out that South Africa had the capability and capacity to meet all of TNPA’s vessel construction needs.
The tug was launched according to maritime tradition and christened by Sagree Chetty, TNPA’s general manager of the legal department.