NEW YEAR MEANS DEEP CHANNEL
7 January 2004Maputo Port Development Company (MPDC) announces that the New Year has begun well with its major channel dredging programme being completed three weeks ahead of schedule. The depth of the port's access channels has been restored to -9.4m and the minimum width to 100m. Mascarenes Dredging & Management Ltd, a member of the Dredging International Group, commenced the dredging on 9 December and, having worked 24 hours a day 7 days a week, completed the job sooner than expected. The ocean-going dredger has now left Maputo to start a project on the Atlantic Coast of Southern Africa .
Technologically advanced suction dredger at work in the Polana Channel
´The dredging programme went smoothly from the beginning. The large trailer suction dredger was operated 24 hours a day, including throughout the Christmas and New Year holidays, by a highly professional crew and that is why the job was completed well ahead of schedule', said Ken Shirley, MPDC's Operations Director.
‘We thank the local maritime community for understanding the importance of the dredger's intense work programme and, in particular, the fishing and tourism industries for co-operating to avoid unnecessary delays,' he said.
‘Dredging of the Polana and Xefina channels is an important milestone for Port Maputo ', Shirley added. ‘It means that large vessels with 12m draft can now use the channels and that we can berth and sail deeper-draft vessels by day and night throughout the tidal cycle. With every passing day Port Maputo is becoming more versatile in the range of services it can offer to Customers.'
Another significant improvement to port services will be the arrival today of a new Pilot Cutter. With a top speed in excess of 30 knots the 10m semi-rigid craft will deliver pilots to incoming ships much faster than previously. The new boat was built in Durban and will go into service later this week.
New Pilot Cutter at the builders yard in Durban
CEO Alec Don added, ‘2004 will be a very exciting year for Port Maputo . With completion of this major channel dredging, MPDC will now move into a regular programme of maintenance dredging. Restoration of the port's capacity, coupled with the introduction of new tugs and improved pilotage equipment, as well as considerable investment in shore-side handling equipment means that the port is now rapidly re-emerging as a corner-stone of the region's transportation infrastructure, a fact which is becoming increasingly apparent to South African exporters located on the Maputo Corridor.'
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Sonia Mota
Tel: +258 1 313 920
Fax: +258 1 313 921
E-mail: sonia.mota@portmaputo.com
Picture available upon request.