May / June 2016
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EC Industrial & Business News
transport, distribution & warehousing
Two new tugs roll off production line
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he South African government’s Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy initiative has yielded more results with the ceremonial launch of two more powerful tugboats built for Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA). The two tugs – named QUNU and CORMORANT – form part of TNPA’s R1.4 billion contract awarded to Durban ship builder, Southern African Shipyards. It is the largest single contract TNPA
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Port of Port Elizabeth alongside her sister tug MVEZO, which was the first to roll off the production line recently. QUNU is expected to be handed over in June, while CORMORANT is destined for the Port of Saldanha in July. The large-scale project will see two tugs each allocated to the Ports of Durban, Richards Bay and Port Elizabeth, while Saldanha, which handles the largest carriers, would receive three tugs. There will be handovers every three months until the last tug is launched in early 2018. TNPA’s new fleet of nine tugs are each 31 metres long with a 70 ton bollard pull. The older fleet of 29 tugs has 32.5 to 40 ton pulls. The increased bollard pull of these new generation tugs meets interna-
CNG beneficial to industry
s an alternative energy source, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) is cleaner, safer, cheaper and more efficient than other conventional fuel sources. It is an energy source that can significantly reduce both the costs and carbon emissions of your business. With reliable supply, and consistent quality, CNG eliminates the uncertainty associated with the regular price fluctuations of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel and paraffin; thus affording greater control of business operations across the board. South Africa has access to large volumes of natural gas. Unfortunately there is a challenge surrounding accessibility due to a severely limited supply network. This is where Virtual Gas Network
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has ever given to a South African company for the building of harbour craft and will see a total of nine new tugs built for the South African port landlord over three and a half years. In line with maritime tradition, the duty of officially naming the vessels was carried out by a Lady Sponsor, Linda Mabaso, Chair of Transnet SOC Limited. The project has, since inception, created at least 500 direct and 3500 indirect jobs. Mabaso named the two tugs ‘QUNU’ – in reference to the Eastern Cape home village of former President, the late Nelson Mandela – and ‘CORMORANT’ after the aquatic bird species of the same name. Tug QUNU will be allocated to the
tional standards and they also feature the latest global technology. The tugs have Voith Scheider propulsion which makes them highly manoeuvrable and able to change the direction and thrust
almost instantaneously while guiding large vessels safely into South Africa’s ports, according to TNPA programme manager Eugene Rappetti, Senior Manager for Marine Operations. Enquiry no: 11
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Reliable, consistent supply at fixed monthly prices enables longterm, strategic financial and operational planning not possible with other conventional price-volatile fuel products. CNG can be used for a vast number of applications requiring a fuel or energy source such as heating, cooling, power generation, burners, furnaces, ovens, boilers, vehicles and fleet applications, used in other industrial, commercial and domestic consumptions. Using specially designed tube trailers and transported via trucks to “Daughterstations” (on customer sites) this system is able to provide a continuous, dedicated supply of CNG to customers who are too far to draw from an existing gas pipeline. Y
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offers significant benefits to the industrial and commercial sector. Introduced to South Africa in 2009 by Virtual Gas Network (Pty) Ltd, in partnership with leading equipment manufacturers, CNG can be transported directly to the customer negating the need to be on the national gas grid.
CROWN advert 135x200 REV.pdf
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Supply chain failures can be prevented
upply chain failures result in empty store shelves, infrastructure in various states of breakdown, basic services and resources that are just not available when and where they’re needed, and even increased pollution levels. All these problems are preventable if the relevant supply chains are managed by skilled professionals. Supply chain management is commonly misunderstood as public procurement, or as logistics in isolation. It is however the integrated combination of activities that balance the supply of goods and services with the demand of customers. “Every part of every product we buy needs to come from somewhere. This usually starts with raw material that need to be sourced, bought and processed by a supplier, stored somewhere, distributed to even more suppliers, and finally to end-customers. And that’s describing a very short and simple supply chain,” says Jenny Froome, General Manager of SAPICS - a professional knowledge-based association that enables individuals and organisations to improve business performance. “Most supply chains are incredibly complex, with multiple layers needing to be coordinated at the same time.” Any part of this chain of events that is not optimised for efficiency, causes a ripple effect of inefficiencies throughout the entire
Enquiry no: 12
Adjustable armrest features integrated controls that move with the seat. Shown with multi-task hydraulic control.
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supply chain, that could result in inventory loses, wasted warehousing space, extended lead times, half-empty trucks serving delivery routes and so on. All of these inefficiencies cause a business to either lose money, spend more money that it should, have unhappy customers, or a combination of these. “There is at least one supply chain in every single industry, and in most, there are several supply chains that feed into one another,” says Froome. “Aerospace, automotive manufacturing, banking services relating to cash transit, retail, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage processing, even the fashion industry all have supply chains that could benefit immensely from supply chain management by Certified Supply Chain Professionals.” Some of the issues that supply chain professionals need to take into account when planning and executing profitable supply chains include energy shortages, technological developments, labour and skills demands, and environmental concerns. The areas of expertise required to plan and maintain the balance between supply and demand is highly complex, and will be addressed during the 38th Annual SAPICS Conference for Supply Chain Management Professionals, sheduled for 12-14 June 2016.
FlexBack ™ with quick-adjust lumbar support reclines for improved upward visibility and reduced back strain.
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Integrated headrest provides postural support and reduces neck stress.
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2016/05/10
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Energy Efficiency Explained 5 6
More Run Time Per Charge 7
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Enquiry no: 13
Visibility Only Crown offers an offset mast for unequalled visibility to the load wheel and forks. The clear-view mast design and patented overhead guard minimise obstructed views during driving and lifting operations.
• Visibility that Drives Success Multi-task hydraulic control
Dual-lever
Fingertip
• Stability that Builds Confidence controls controls
Control options for the ESR Series include thethat choiceRises of multi-task • 5200 Performance Above (ESR 5260 and 5280S only), fingertip, or dual-lever hydraulic controls. Other control-enhancing options include an adjustable steering column and armrest.
• Longevity that Pays
More Pallets Per Hour
It just makes sense...
Branches in: Johannesburg (Head Office), Durban, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London & Nelspruit Tel: 0861 GOSCOR (467 267) • lifttrucks@goscor.co.za www.goscorlifttrucks.co.za A proud member of the Goscor Group of Companies NEW Branch
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