The Port of East London’s Princess Elizabeth dry dock is set to undergo a major revamp.

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) of South Africa has announced a ZAR57.5 million investment geared toward improving the region’s ship-repair and boat-building sectors, Southern Africa Shipping News reports. Of the total amount, ZAR47 million will be used to repair the caisson (watertight steel lock-gate structure).

‘[We] are pleased to be at the stage of actual execution of our refurbishment of the dry dock’s caisson, just a few weeks after we completed refurbishment of the facility’s main shut-off valves,’ says East London port manager, Sharon Sijako, adding that the dock will be out of commission for several weeks between October and December.

Other work recently completed at the East London dry dock includes the replacement of electrical switch gears, crane rails, capstans (used for winding rope or cable), compressors and a fire-protection booster pump, as well as a ZAR10.6 million refurbishment of the main shut-off valves, which flood and empty the dock of water.

10 September 2019
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