An excerpt from Africa PORTS and SHIPS Maritime News - 21 February 2018

After a frustrating year in which the country’s two busiest ports in terms of ship movements and tonnage handled have had lengthy periods when port helicopters used to ferry marine pilots and other personnel have had to revert to using pilot boats, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has announced that it will be acquiring two new aircraft for delivery next year.

TNPA said in a statement yesterday that it has concluded negotiations and signed an agreement for the manufacture, supply and delivery of two new helicopters to service the Ports of Durban and Richards Bay.

The AgustaWestland (AW 109) helicopters, valued at around R250 million, are being procured from Leonardo S.p.A., formerly Leonardo-Finmeccanica, Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland and are expected to be delivered by June 2019.

This Italian global high-tech company is headquartered in Rome and is one of the key players in aerospace, defence and security. The AW109 series are twin-engined and the helicopters being supplied come equipped with a harbour pilot kit that features a hoist to lower or raise personnel from the ships below. According to the TNPA South Africa is understood to be one of only three countries in the world that offer the unique Helicopter Marine Pilotage Service.The use of aircraft in this fashion enables a swifter and much safer facility for pilots to board and leave the ships, especially when during inclement weather or sea conditions.TNPA Chief Executive, Shulami Qalinge, said clients would welcome the prospect of improved operational efficiency and safety in TNPA’s marine aviation service.

“Richards Bay and Durban are the only ports in our complementary port system which use helicopters to transfer marine pilots onto and off visiting vessels. We have an existing fleet of three AW109 helicopters and this purchase forms part of the Fleet Replacement Programme.
“We are therefore delighted that we are now in a position to respond to long-time industry calls. The acquisition of new helicopters has been a priority for us under the Transnet Market Demand Strategy which among others seeks to improve operational efficiency and safety in our ports.”

Qalinge’s remarks come in the wake of criticism over the unavailability of the existing fleet, during times when only one aircraft was available and TNPA took the decision to base that helicopter to Richards Bay, apparently on the ground of the greater distance to the outer anchorage.
Ship’s agents and operators in Durban complained that they were having to pay for the more expensive helicopter service whilst pilots were forced to use the much slower marine pilot boat service.

The contract for the new helicopters includes a 25% supplier development obligation by the global supplier to ensure that the contract creates socio-economic benefits within South Africa. These would include job creation, skills development and where possible use of local, empowered companies and local materials or parts.