Feature 2 | AFRICA Durban benefits from offshore business


Durban’s South African Shipyards has become one of the country’s leading ship repairers with the space of the past three years.


recently, in 2007, as a complement to its newbuilding work. Since then the company’s repair business has grown substantially, with the volume of work doubling year-on-year. According to managing director, Louis


S


Gontier: “Last year was a very good year due to some major projects, while 2010 has started slowly. We are seeing particular success in the smaller vessel segment, including anchor handlers and offshore support vessels.” One of the biggest projects carried


out by SAS in 2009 involved damage repairs to an anchor handling tug that had suffered an engine room fire, with subsequent flooding caused by efforts to extinguish the fire. The yard overhauled the engines and generators, as well as the pumps and compressors, while all the shafts were renewed and the thrusters removed and overhauled. The latter part of the contract required using special blocks to dock the vessel to allow this work to take place. The fire damage also meant that virtually all the electrical items onboard had to be renewed. In addition all the hydraulic


components had to be either overhauled or renewed, and any insulation material that suffered damage was replaced. Also included was extensive steelwork in areas that suffered damage and blasting and painting of the entire ship. The anchor handler was in the Durban dock for around nine months and the total value of the project was around US$9 million. Another anchor handler was docked at


the yard last year for significant repairs, during which both forward thrusters were renewed, including the tunnels, while both shafts were also removed and overhauled. The yard further overhauled the main engine, carried out steel work in the tanks, installed two new generators and carried out extensive blasting and


34


outh African Shipyards (SAS) which operates in the port of Durban, started ship repair fairly


South African Shipyards has developed a thriving repair business over the past three years at docks in Durban.


painting works. This craft was in the dock for four months for a contract valued at around US$2 million. In April this year, SAS was working


on a landing craft from the Seychelles, which was in for the complete renewal of the ship’s bottom and loading ramp. The yard also refurbished the accommodation areas while the vessel was being drydocked. SAS is continuing to upgrade its


facilities in line with demand and last year purchased a small floating dock, Sasdock1, from Japan, which will be made available for repair as well as newbuilding work. “We intend investing in equipment on an ongoing basis,” says Mr Gontier. While its repair business is clearly


going well, SAS points out that it is operating in an industry that is in a state of flux. As Mr Gontier comments: “The government is trying to privatise the graving and floating docks all


over South Africa. This will be a huge challenge as there are many repairers who will try to get their hands on these assets, but few have the financial capabilities to do this. The ones that do not have the financial muscle will try to stop this happening.” In the meantime the condition of the state-owned docks continue to deteriorate and skilled craftsmen are becoming more difficult to find, he says. Another challenge is represented by


the plans of the port authority Transnet to expand Durban’s container terminal. “This leaves repairers in limbo with regards to long term leases and so major investment decisions cannot be taken,” adds Mr Gontier. Overall, though, Mr Gontier is


upbeat about prospects. “Generally we get storm damage vessels annually and offshore related vessels seem to be on the increase over the entire coast,” he adds. SRCT


Shiprepair and Conversion Technology 2nd Quarter 2010


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64