SOUTH AFRICA: After a four-week installation process to install a new marine excavator on the Italeni undertaken in Transnet National Port Authority’s dry dock in Durban, the grab hopper dredger is ready to resume services to maintain port depths and entrance channels.
After issuing a tender for the new excavator in August last year the contract to install and commission the new equipment was awarded to Liebherr Africa and represents an investment of about R76 million. The excavator was manufactured in Nenzing Austria before being transported to South Africa for installation on board the Italeni.
The installation of the new technology will boost dredging volumes and increase efficiency at South Africa’s commercial seaports. A marine excavator is a specialised technological machinery that is used to improve dredging operations while ensuring safe and sustainable practises of marine and coastal environments.
With an investment value of R76 million, the newly installed excavator is designed to grab dredged material weighing up to 2,000kg at a radius of at least 20 metres. The upgrade will enable the Italeni to efficiently handle dredged volumes of 150,000 cubic meters, a significant increase from its annual capacity from 94,000 m3.
The upgrade replaces the excavator fitted in 2014 that has reached its operational lifespan. This feature bolsters berth availability to meet the increasing demand of larger vessels calling into South African ports.
“The Italeni upgrade enables TNPA’s strategic intent of creating a smart port system through harnessing innovation and technology. Coupled with enhancing the dredger’s capability to dredge the ports to the required depth, the new marine excavator will ensure that our waterside infrastructure remains competitive by improving TNPA’s customer service offering,” said Phyllis Difeto Acting TNPA Chief Executive.
Italeni is the only dredging vessel in South Africa capable of accessing confined berths and quay walls, distinguishing the craft from the rest of TNPA’s dredging fleet necessary for maintenance work.
The installed machinery adheres to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) regulations and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) legislation regarding carbon emissions.
TNPA is currently assessing the condition of the old excavator, the Liebherr HS895, to determine whether it can be refurbished or will require scrapping.
If refurbishment is deemed appropriate, TNPA will approach the market to procure the necessary services. If the asset is to be disposed of, the disposal will be carried out in accordance with the company’s established disposal protocols.
Dredging capacity set to grow further
Having issued tenders for a cutter suction dredger in January 2024 and a grab Hopper dredger in July of the same year, Transnet National Ports Authority is set to grow its dredging capacity further. According to the TNPA these two tenders are still proceeding.
The tender for the grab hopper dredger issued in July includes specifications for a marine excavator capable of lifting an 8m3 bucket at a minimum radius of 20 metres. It should also have a hopper capacity of 750 m3.
