During the TNPA/IHC ceremony a Mandela coin was symbolically placed underneath the keel of the dredger. When construction of the dredger is complete the coin will sail to Durban with the dredger and be returned to TNPA.
It is maritime tradition for a commemorative coin to be placed under the hull of a new ship during the keel laying ceremony, to invite good fortune during construction and the life of the ship.
The not yet named 5500 cubic metre trailing-suction hopper dredger is the largest in Africa and the third to be built as part of a more than R2 billion programme to renew the dredging fleet. The contract for its construction was awarded to IHC in 2014 and it will replace the 2800m3 Ingwenya. The launching ceremony is planned for May and an earlier than expected delivery is set for the end January 2016.
The dredger is the largest in Africa and is self-sufficient in that it comes with its own workboat. The workboat, among its many tasks, will be used as hydrographic survey boat.
This trailing suction dredger will be fitted with the latest technology and the estimated 1400 tonnes of steel used in the dredger is being imported from South Africa.