Every sector of our business has shown substantial growth. We are encouraged that the niche new building market is sustainable and that our price levels and delivery are world competitive with a number of confirmed projects and imminent orders, shortly to be announced.

Our division in Cape Town has gained a reputation for fast response and has completed numerous very large repair projects for the offshore rig and barge market.

In addition we have a mobile and experienced team that is almost always in West Africa assisting the offshore market with repairs on location. Recently our Cape Town division was involved in the refurbishment project of the MV Mighty Servant that sank off Angola and which was salvaged by Smit.

Richards Bay has secured a number of large industrial projects in the mining and industrial sector and is well known for large scale, quality fabrications and site work erection teams.

Our marine team provides a vital service to the bulk carrier market that is often pressed for time in such a busy coal loading Port. The outlook for our Richards Bay division this year is again extremely positive.

It is likely that there will be a number of strategic changes in ship repair in South Africa within the next 12 months and DORMAC will be in the forefront of these initiatives.

Container traffic into South Africa is growing at an alarming rate, to the extent that current Ports are unable to cope, this also provides an excellent growth opportunity for the medium term within Durban, Richards Bay and Coega Ports.”

Chris Sparg
Managing Director

DORMAC ACHIEVES ITS PLANNED BEE STRATEGY
“In August 2007 DORMAC engaged Rating Agency “Empowerdex” to conduct a BEE audit of the group. DORMAC is one of the first companies that Empowerdex have successfully audited according to the newly gazetted Codes Of Good Practice.

The codes were gazetted on the 9th February 2007. I am proud to announce that we have achieved a “BB” rating. The strength of our BEE Scorecard coupled with phenomenal financial growth the company is experiencing indicates that DORMAC’S transformation initiatives are authentic and sound.

Our intention is to increase our score at the next audit in July 2008 and I assure you that this will be done. An audited scorecard goes a very long way to assist the company in securing lucrative contracts from our South African customers.

In addition, the drives being made into Enterprise Development and Skills Development, assists the company’s operational needs tremendously.

Chris and I are proud of our BEE achievement and we would like to congratulate each of you who in your own direct and indirect way have contributed to this achievement.”

Craig Samuel
Financial Director




DORMAC REKINDLES NEW BUILD DIVISION AND CREATES SOUTH AFRICAN MARITIME HISTORY
The recent completion of the Bunker Barge ‘Smit LiPuma’ for South African Client Smit Amandla Marine, resulted in a few milestones for the team at Dormac. The ‘Smit LiPuma’ resurrected the New Build Division at Dormac being the first vessel since 1993 to be built in the Dormac Yard since the MV Cape Byron. A first for Dormac and the South African Maritime Industry was achieved with the completion of the Smit LiPuma as it is the first double –hulled Bunker Barge to be built in the country. Exciting news is that a number of new orders and enquiries have come through for the building of additional double hulled bunker barges and supply vessels.

Building of the Smit LiPuma commenced in November 2006 and just 14 months later she was floated out of the Dormac slipway on the 10th December 2007. The Smit LiPuma consists of nearly 800 tons of steel and consists of a fully electric discharge system. The launch of the barge follows the official naming of her on the 29th of November 2007 at an event attended by SMIT Amandla Marine stakeholders, clients, associates and friends as well as the honoured Minister of Transport Mr Jeff Radebe.

Using the latest in Barge design and technology, the vessel allows for maximum fuel carrying requirements in mind and will be able to deliver bunkers at rates of up to 1000 tonne/hr. Other design features include optimal maneuverability, advanced safety features and the capacity to carry some 5000 tonnes of marine fuel (fuel oil, gas oil and diesel oil), the ‘SMIT LiPuma’ epitomises the latest in international barge design. Features inherent in the design of the barge include diesel-electric propulsion, closed loop loading, a bunker gantry and wheelhouse control of the whole cargo operation.

A boost to our New Build aspirations is the recent signing of the contract to build a new double hulled 4,250 dwt bunker barge for Unicorn Calulo Bunker Services. Dormac will be responsible for the entire project including design and equipment supply. In addition to this build, Dormac have also been awarded the double skinning project of the Pentow Energy. The Pentow Energy has a duration of 6 months and the Unicorn Barge (Hull 109) has a delivery of 14 months. The projects begin in January and February respectively.

An inspection of the underwater damage revealed that the other vessels bulbous bow had inflicted significant damage to the vessels hull which resulted in a 35 ton side shell cofferdam being built, which continued around the turn of the bilge to the flat bottom, to carry out the repairs to the below waterline damage.

The cofferdam continues to be the preferred option for vessels in need of underwater repairs due to the ability to avoid enormous costs of discharging the vessels cargo, storing of it, dry-docking costs and costs of reloading its cargo.

In total 99 tons of steel were used to undertake the repairs to the Josco Suzho. This included repairs to the cargo holds. After the repairs were completed the vessel left the Dormac repair quay on the 15th January 2008.

Repairs included a complete refurbishment of the vessel including recoating of holds 1 & 2 and the entire tween deck level. All hatch covers and coamings were chipped and recoated with the covers receiving a new McGregor rubber sealing system.

A 100% blast below the waterline was undertaken and the application of a silicone painting system on the entire hull was applied.

Repairs to the CPP tailshaft and hub involved the removal of the propeller blades and the fitment of new seals. The Bow Thruster was also removed and taken to our workshop for reconditioning.

Due to the urgency of the repair work and the congestion in the Dry Docks, she was berthed at Maydon Wharf’s N-Shed some 2km’s away from the Dormac Yard and two side-shell cofferdams were manufactured to carry out the repairs. A 7,5 ton cofferdam was transported from our yard via our barge to the vessel and the smaller 2 ton cofferdam was transported by road with the help of one of our large trucks.

The cofferdam option allowed her to retain her cargo and avoid the high costs of offloading, storage and reloading. The 7,5 ton cofferdam measured 2m/4m/7m and allowed the Dormac team to work 5m below the waterline in order to repair the cracks. A team attended to the vessel day and night to ensure that repairs were carried out in the shortest time possible.

Apart from the cofferdam repairs, additional steel work was undertaken. Once complete, the vessel was underway.

East Coast Radio Toy Story 2007
This is a campaign that has been in existence for the past 8 years here in KZN. Tens of thousands of Toys and thousands of food parcels are distributed to the poor and needy kids across KZN. The food parcels feed a family of 4-6, for approximately 6 weeks. The food parcels are created by the Gift of the Givers, who partner with  East Coast Radio on Toy Story. These food parcels are designed with the family’s daily needs in mind and contain maize, rice, beans, oil, milk powder, soaps, soup, sugar, teabags, porridge and ready food, amongst other items. The toys that they receive are sorted according to gender and age, and each new toys finds an appropriate home, whether it is with a child at one of the 63 government hospitals, or one of the many orphanages or child-headed households throughout our province. Dormac  donated 353 toys to the value of R3,265 to the campaign.

Survivors
Survivors is an organisation that has opened a children sanctuary. They are run from a residence in Holmpark, Durban North where 18 babies and children are housed. These children are the victims of physical and sexual abuse and most of them are abandoned by their parents. Some of the cases are so bad that the kids require hospitalisation and rehabilitation. The main requirement from Survivors was to subsidise the acquisition of a Combi to be used to transport the children to school. Dormac  donated R10,000 to this campaign.  

God’s Treasure Chest
They have a small group of children (13 in all) that are placed in their care either through fostering, adoption or “safe care”. Their backgrounds vary from total abandonment to being orphaned due to their parents dying from varying causes including Aids. Some are special needs children that require special care. The main requirement from God’s Treasure Chest was to sponsor the uniforms and school books for the 13 children. Dormac donated R10,000 for this.

 Saint Philomena’s Children Home
Was established in 1985 and is run by the Catholic Church here in Durban. Many of our Dormac Staff attend this parish. At present they have 90 children from all races ranging from 2 years to 18 years old. Dormac has always supported St Philomenas and is committed to continue doing so. We approached them to offer to contribute for their direct and urgent needs. Their main requirement was for school stationery for the kids. Dormac has donated R10,000 for this.

This is one of the biggest Air Cooling Units that we have removed in Richards Bay. The cooling unit was manufactured by Seo Kaotsu Kogyo Co. Japan as is a type s -150 -t 8-p (4) , sheel and pin type. This unit weighed 3.7 tons, and once it was removed, it was transported to our workshop for cleaning and repairs.

December was a very productive period, we started the month with the total overhauling of a Liebher Crane, which included the overhauling of the hydraulic motors of the boom and whinch and the overhauling of the whinch itself.

In January we completed a total overhaul of a 120 kw AC Brissonneau Hoist motor . The damaged motor was stripped in our workshop, which revealed that the brake lining was damaged, and both windings burnt.

Stephen has a wealth of experience in the ship repair marine engineering industry having joined Dormac on February 2nd 1992. We wish him well as he embarks on his new voyage.

We congratulate the following staff members on their appointments. Welcome to the Dormac Team.

Durban
Terence Chapman – Public Relations Officer
Kevin Moodley - Estimator
Naven Ganess – QA Inspector
Barend Groenewald – Autocad/Jnr Estimator
Aletta Knipe – Nurse

Richards Bay
Pragasen Pillay - Industrial PM

The monthly calendar is emailed to over 15 000 recipients across the world and should you wish to receive our calendar, please email your request to terence@dormac.net or subscribe on our website www.dormac.net

Dates to remember:
14 March Dormac Golf Day | 5 April Tugela River Raft Race

DORMAC LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE
Dormac will soon be launching its new website. So to keep up to date with whats happening at the Continents biggest and busiest shipyard, go to www.dormac.net.