New Damen dredger joins South African fleet

The new vessel, Mohoma, replaces 50-year-old plough tug, Impisi as part of what TNPA says is an ongoing fleet replacement programme.

Impisi has been confined to the Port of Durban because of limited availability, but Mohoma enable TNPA to plough at all South African ports, it says.

Mohoma – which literally means ‘to plough’ in Sesotho, an official South African language – is from Damen’s Shoalbuster series, built in steel and made for multi functions in harbour and coastal areas. 

“We are honoured to deliver this state-of-the-art plough tug to TNPA,” said Sefale Montsi, Director of Damen Shipyards Cape Town. “This vessel has the capacity of a 45t bollard pull measure, 33 metres long and 9 metres wide, and can plough up to 25m depth. With a spacious working deck, this versatile workboat will serve as an asset for TNPA’s ports and dredging operations.”

Plough tugs are used as bed levellers to smooth out high spots created by marine traffic in high-volume berth areas as a complement to conventional dredgers, which deepen navigation channels, anchorages or berthing areas.

“The demand for dredging services has increased in the region and the addition of this plough tug will increase the berth capacity of the ports,” said , chairperson of the Transnet Board of Directors, Dr Popo Molefe. “Managing the demand is part of TNPA’s growth plan, which will see the continuous improvement of port infrastructure.”