Durban — The multimillion-rand tug jetty project at the Durban Harbour is expected to be completed by December 2023.
On Monday, Transnet said that its R127-million tug jetty expansion project was moving swiftly and was anticipated to be completed in December 2023.
Transnet said the project was in line with the Durban Port master plan, which was set to position the Port of Durban as a container hub in order to respond to larger vessels calling into the port requiring additional tugs for quicker turnaround time.
It said the Port of Durban tug jetty project was being implemented in two segments. These commenced with the establishment of a new 110m tug jetty adjacent and parallel to the existing jetty, with this phase being 98% complete. The second segment, which has begun, is the extension of the existing tug jetty by 35m where the teams are forging ahead with placing the concrete deck.
Port of Durban port engineer Malefetsane Setaka said: “This project will contribute to an improved turnaround time by providing a dedicated docking space for the new tugs, thereby ensuring all marine fleet are berthed and located in one dedicated water space.”
Transnet said there were some delays experienced after the April 2022 floods. These included sewer spills and contaminated water that resulted in the port suspending diving activities, thus delaying critical underwater works on the project. The excessive debris in the tug-jetty basin also affected dredging and repairs to new sinkholes, as well as access to place scour rock protection along the quayside.
The Transnet project team and the contractor established recovery mechanisms to reduce as much time lost with the aim to ensure the project was completed as per the planned timelines.
Progress to date on the construction of the new 110m jetty includes:
- Construction of new jetty comprising water and electrical reticulation is complete.
- Dredging is about 95% complete.
- Rock scour protection is being placed.
Progress to date on the 35m extension to the existing tug jetty includes:
- All piles have been installed.
- Demolitions of existing jetty tie-in works are complete.
- Six of six pre-cast transom beams have been placed.
- Eighteen of 18 pre-cast soffit slabs have been placed.
- Twenty of 27 pre-cast fender panels have been placed.
- Fifty percent of concrete stitching is done (first layer of concrete on deck).
- Twenty-five percent of concrete deck is done (top layer of concrete on deck).
The construction activities commenced in May 2021 after the project was awarded to WBHO Construction (Pty) Ltd in February 2021 to execute the expansion.
Daily News