TNPA seeks private partner for Cape Town floating dry dock

The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to appoint a private sector partner to develop a new floating dry dock at the Port of Cape Town, as it looks to expand South Africa's ship repair capacity and strengthen the country's position as a regional maritime services hub.

Under the proposed 25-year concession, the selected operator will be responsible for designing, financing, constructing, operating, maintaining and ultimately decommissioning the floating dry dock.

The project forms part of TNPA's Ship Repair and Marine Manufacturing Strategy, which aims to position South Africa as a leading centre for ship repair and marine manufacturing in Africa and the Southern Hemisphere.

According to TNPA, the additional dry-docking capacity will enable the Port of Cape Town to handle a growing number of regional and international vessels while improving the port's competitiveness as a preferred ship repair destination along one of the world's busiest shipping routes.

Demand for ship repair services has continued to grow, driven by rising regional trade volumes and increased vessel traffic along the Cape Sea Route. TNPA said the new floating dry dock would help meet this demand while supporting the long-term development of South Africa's maritime sector.

The authority expects the new facility to incorporate energy-efficient technologies, climate-resilient design principles and modern safety systems, improving operational efficiency while supporting the port's long-term sustainability objectives.

"The Port of Cape Town has long played a significant role in supporting the maritime industry through its ship repair facilities," said Ophelia Shabane, Acting Port Manager, Port of Cape Town.

"This concession project presents an opportunity to not only increase capacity but also to enhance our service offering to customers and reinforce Cape Town's position as a competitive maritime repair hub."

She added that the project is also expected to generate broader socio-economic benefits through job creation, skills development, supplier development and increased participation by local enterprises across the marine engineering and ship repair value chain.

Once operational, the floating dry dock will support a range of maintenance and repair activities, including hull repairs, machinery and equipment overhauls, steelwork inspections and specialised maintenance services.

The initiative forms part of TNPA's broader strategy to expand South Africa's marine manufacturing and ship repair capabilities through greater private-sector participation while modernising port infrastructure.

TNPA manages South Africa's national commercial port system in a landlord capacity and provides port infrastructure and marine services across the country's eight commercial seaports—Richards Bay, Durban, Saldanha, Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, East London, Mossel Bay and Ngqura. The port authority also mentioned that a non-compulsory briefing session for prospective bidders will be held on 3 September 2026, with proposals closing on 14 December 2026.