Whatshot
Second of Nine New TNPA Tugs Sets Sail
Second of Nine New TNPA Tugs Sets Sail
The tug was ceremonially launched as QUNU in May alongside a third tug, CORMORANT. QUNU was named after the Eastern Cape home village of former President, the late Nelson Mandela and is due to arrive in Port Elizabeth around 22h00 on Friday, 8 July.
She is the second of two new tugs built for the port as part of this large-scale fleet replacement project. The first, MVEZO - named after the Eastern Cape birthplace of Mandela - was unveiled at the port in April by President Jacob Zuma.
Valued at R1.4 billion, the nine-tug contract is the largest single contract TNPA has ever awarded to a South African company for the building of harbour craft.
TNPA Chief Executive, Richard Vallihu, said after the tug's ceremonial launch last year: "The building of these tugs demonstrates that this country has the expertise to compete in the global shipbuilding industry and to use the maritime economy to unlock the economic potential of South Africa, in line with the government's Operation Phakisa initiative."
QUNU will be handed over officially to the port in the coming weeks. Two tugs each will be allocated to the Ports of Durban, Richards Bay and Port Elizabeth, while Saldanha, which handles the largest carriers, would receive three tugs.