THE Port of Durban has put in place mitigation plans to improve marine craft availability in the port, following a number of breakdowns on its tugs in the past week, the National Ports Authority said in a statement issued on Monday.
The port is working to ensure minimal impact on operations and to bring the tug availability back to normality. As of 27 January 2023, tug availability averaged three tugs, instead of the normal five.
Tug Indlazi has been deployed from the Port of Ngqura to increase marine craft availability, with the tug expected to reach the port by Tuesday, January 31, 2023. This will increase the number of available tugs to four. One tug is currently in dry dock completing a Hull Certification process. This process is expected to be completed on February 1, 2023, and will bring the total number of available tugs back up to five. This will enable vessels berthing at the port to be adequately serviced.
In the medium term and to create spare capacity; tugs Palmiet, Pholela and Umsunduzi are having their propulsion units overhauled and are expected to be back in operation by the end of April 2023.
The Port of Durban is also in the process of acquiring two second-hand tugs, with a maximum age limit of five years, that are expected to be delivered by August 2023.
