Page 109 - KZN Top Busines Portfolio 2020/21

The shipyard, in its role of “Prime Contractor or a experience of having built such technically advanced
Primary Systems Integrator” partnered on a turnkey ships, and with the aim of becoming a global force
risk sharing basis with a number of South African and to be reckoned with, SanDock Austral Shipyards is
international companies who are specialists in the hoping to secure the intellectual rights to both mega
areas that make up the complex systems and sub- projects, the plan being to replicate them to the rest of
systems that constitutes an HSV. Africa,” said Maharaj.
SanDock Austral Shipyards has recently completed Maharaj said that, ultimately, the shipbuilding and
the delivery of nine tugs to Transnet National Ports repairing sector needed to develop new products
Authorities (TNPA). This contract was the largest and services that responded to the challenges of the
single contract that the parastatal has ever awarded Fourth Industrial Revolution and climate change.
to a South African company for the building of “Investment was needed into modern and more
harbour craft.
efficient production and manufacturing equipment,
The 31-long-metre vessels are among the world’s in new products and services through research,
largest and most powerful harbour tugs and are development and innovation, into skills development
destined for the various South African ports where in order to increase efficiency of labour and into
they will be able to efficiently manoeuvre and safely technology platforms in order to reduce dependency
pull the bigger ships that are now entering South on expensive overseas technology,” he concluded.
African waters.
The work of SanDock Austral Shipyards has helped to
cement the marine ship building and support industry
locally and has also ensured that the benefits are
spread to local, empowered companies. This contract
has been about creating jobs, developing technical
skills, training artisans and developing engineers for
the wellbeing of future generations.
Another aspect has been training maritime personnel
through a grassroots development Marine Incubator
Programme. A partnership has been nurtured with
the eThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) as well as the
Department of Environmental Affairs to provide
employment for graduates through the organisational
spheres and expose them to all aspects of operating a
maritime focused company with international reach in
a South African context.
SanDock Austral Shipyards has also recognised
the growing gap in the market to service the fishing
industry and is on a drive to net this business. With the SanDock Austral is at the cutting edge of research
development and industrialisation of intellectual property.
Full Name of Company: SanDock Austral Shipyards KEY PERSONNEL
Industry Sector: Manufacturing CEO: Prasheen Maharaj
Services/Products: Ship building, ship repair and CFO: Akash Singh
Ship Building: Greg Delpaul
heavy engineering Ship Repair: Charles Maher
Date Established: July 1993 Chief Commercial Operations Officer: Karl Wiesner
Customer Base: International agents, armed force, Group HSSE Manager: Thumela Mkhize
Group QAQC Manager: Don Khumalo
local/international ports authority, Chief Technical Officer: Derek Rabie
local/international ship owners and global maritime GM - Human Resources: Candice Mkasi
companies CONTACT DETAILS
No. of Employees: 105 permanent staff and Physical Address: 10 Rotterdam Road, Bayhead,
over 251 long term contractors Durban, 4001
Auditors: D Nundkissore and Associates Postal Address: P.O. Box 17253, Congella, 4013
Tel: +27 (0)31 274 1800 Fax: +27 (0)31 205 1812
Bankers: First National Bank E-mail: enquiries@sas.co.za
B-BBEE Status: Level 2 Website: www.sas.co.za
107