“It should be ready in the fourth quarter,” Smit Amandla Marine's managing director Paul Maclons told Bunkerworld.
The 5,000 metric tonne capacity barge will be one of the largest operating in the South African market.
The barge will be deployed in Durban, South Africa's principal bunkering port.
It will join Smit Amandla Marine's three existing bunker barges, based in Durban and Richards Bay.
Durban's suppliers are building up their barging capacity as the port prepares to phase out its aging ex-wharf pipeline delivery network.
Maclons estimated that 60% of Durban deliveries, by volume, were now made by barge.
Maclons said the company had “no firm plans” to order further barges, but was nevertheless looking at the commercial viability of expanding its fleet.
The new barge is being built in Durban by the Dormac shipyard. The keel of the R60 million ($8.1 million) vessel was laid in November last year.
Smit Amandla was formed in November 2005 to take over the majority of the South African business of the Dutch maritime services and salvage group Smit Internationale NV.
In an interview this month, Maclons said the barge building had boosted the local economy in sectors such as steel supply, steel cutting, blasting and painting, transport and electronics.
South Africa's bunker players have been highlighting the importance of the sector to South Africa as they struggle with product shortages linked to refinery turnarounds and outages.
Durban new-build on target for 2007 delivery
The South African bunker barge operator and marine services provider Smit Amandla Marine says its new double-hull bunker barge is on target for delivery this year.