Port of Cape Town to get helicopter pilot transfer service

Members are informed on the recent announcement by South Africa’s Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) that it has made the decision following a successful trial in October last year of the service to transfer pilots to/from vessels via helicopter.

The helicopter service, which has been in operation at Durban and Richards Bay for some years, is expected to be introduced in Cape Town in 2021.

Cape Town has traditionally used pilot boats to transfer marine pilots to and from vessels and the introduction of a helicopter service should alleviate the negative impact on port operations and service in Cape Town caused by ongoing weather-related disruptions and high swell conditions.

Source: Standard Club