Damen Shipyards Cape Town provides interest-free loan for state-of-the-art CNC pipe-bending machine
As part of its commitment to accelerate transformation in the South African shipbuilding industry, Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) has recently helped to empower Africa Projects Consultants; a small, 100% black-owned business focused on the shipbuilding and ship repair sectors, via a R5 million (€312,000) interest-free loan to purchase a state-of-the-art pipe-bending machine. This investment will enhance Africa Projects Consultants’ capabilities and so grow its business. Both companies have signed an agreement to seal their partnership, the company said in its release.
Jaap de Lange, DSCT managing director, said: “Every ship is comprised of a mass of pipes, much like the veins and arteries in the human body, so good pipework is fundamental in every vessel. Up until now, there has been no pipe-bending service that could adequately cater to our needs. With this initiative, there will soon be a modern capability able to serve both our demands and those of the wider shipbuilding and repair sector in our region.” The new machine will dramatically improve quality and reduce the time and cost involved in bending pipes. It will arrive in South Africa at the end of September.
The way pipe-bending of thick wall thickness pipes is done now involves manually welding together two pipes and an elbow or alternatively complete bend pipes were imported. This much more technologically advanced pipe-bending machine will not only increase the speed at which the pipe bending and fabrication can be done, it will also increase quality substantially. This makes the products and services offered by Africa Projects Consulatants much more efficient with quicker turnaround times, enabling the company to be more competitive. With this new equipment Africa Projects can expand its services to other customers in the maritime and other markets.
Project manager and co-founder of Africa Projects Consultants, Taufeeq Phipps added, “With DSCT’s help we will now be able to grow our business into something that can sustain a large number of employees in the Western Cape.” DSCT’s financing of the pipe-bending machine is part of its Enterprise Supplier Development (ESD) programme. This also involves DSCT mentoring suppliers in areas such as sales & marketing and financial management, and also in delivering local and international networking opportunities.
Eva Moloi, transformation manager at DSCT, adds that DSCT is committed to and very passionate about transforming the country by playing a critical role in the marine industry. “Projects, like the construction of the three Multi-mission Inshore Patrol Vessels for the South African Navy, have allowed us to introduce black-owned companies to incredible opportunities that they otherwise would not have been exposed to.”
About Damen Shipyards Cape Town
A subsidiary of the Damen International Shipyard Group, Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) builds ships in Africa for Africa and has to date constructed and delivered over 40 vessels for numerous countries on the African continent. These vessels have included offshore patrol vessels, dredgers, tugs, naval craft and supply vessels. The Level 3 BEE rated company strives to be an employer of choice in the South African shipbuilding sector and is committed to furthering the future of the industry and expanding employment opportunities within it through the provision of internships, apprenticeships and training. In addition, DSCT endeavours to build vessels that harness local materials and services and, where necessary, assists in the development of local suppliers and service providers to ensure that they meet the standards required for world class quality vessels. Through these efforts, DSCT encourages local entrepreneurship and job creation.
About Africa Projects Consultants
Founded by Taufeeq Phipps, Refaan Hendricks and Ezzat Williams, Africa Projects Consultants has over 90 years combined experience in the industrial, shipping and oil & gas industries.
Damen Shipyards Group operates 36 shipbuilding and repair yards, employing 12,000 people worldwide. Damen has delivered more than 6,500 vessels in more than 100 countries and delivers some 175 vessels annually to customers worldwide. Based on its unique, standardised ship-design concept Damen is able to guarantee consistent quality.
Damen’s focus on standardisation, modular construction and keeping vessels in stock leads to short delivery times, low ‘total cost of ownership’, high resale values and reliable performance. Furthermore, Damen vessels are based on thorough R&D and proven technology.
Damen offers a wide range of products, including tugs, workboats, naval and patrol vessels, high speed craft, cargo vessels, dredgers, vessels for the offshore industry, ferries, pontoons and superyachts.
For nearly all vessel types Damen offers a broad range of services, including maintenance, spare parts delivery, training and the transfer of (shipbuilding) know-how. Damen also offers a variety of marine components, such as nozzles, rudders, winches, anchors, anchor chains and steel works.
Damen Shiprepair & Conversion (DSC) has a worldwide network of eighteen repair and conversion yards of which twelve are located in North West Europe. Facilities at the yards include more than 50 floating and (covered) drydocks, the largest of which is 420 x 90 metres, as well as slopes, ship lifts and indoor halls. Projects range from the smallest simple repairs through Class’ maintenance to complex refits and the complete conversion of large offshore structures. DSC completes around 1,300 repair and maintenance jobs annually, both at yards as well as in ports and during voyages.
