Damen Shipyards Cape Town Holds Dredging Seminar

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) held a one-day dredging seminar for more than 50 attendees on November 23. Guests included representatives from companies across Southern Africa that supply dredging services, employ dredging services or have an interest in dredging, and government agencies.

Sefale Montsi, a non-executive director and board member of DSCT, and Benny Bhali, sales and marketing executive at DSCT provided the opening address, followed by presentations from Andrew Mukandila from the Department of Trade and Industry; Bonnie Horbach, consul general, Kingdom of the Netherlands; and Riyaadh Kara from the Department of Public Works. Sessions included information on techniques, technology and current issues involving maintenance dredging and capital dredging, dredging equipment and dredging services. A demonstration of a Damen 150 DOP Submersible Dredge Pump was also part of the day’s activities.

Andrew Mukandila, deputy director of industrial policy at the Department of Trade & Industry, said, “The seminar on the dredging industry in Southern Africa was an eye opener on the potential that the industry has in terms of growth, job creation and skills development mainly for young people. We are of the view that, if given an opportunity on the local market, the industry will greatly develop, attract investments in equipment manufacturing, and build market confidence and competitiveness in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.” 

The Damen Shipyards Group is a leader in the design and build of both dredging vessels and the equipment they use to extract and relocate sediment. The company deemed the event a success and will consider offering it again next year.