Cape Town’s Damen Shipyards Launches First of Three Versatile Patrol Vessels for South African Navy
During a gathering at Simons Town Naval Base, the inaugural one of three, advanced, Multi Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs) has been transferred to the South African Navy. This vessel signifies the conclusion of four years of dedication by Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT). The delivered vessel will enhance South Africa’s maritime safety by bolstering the nation’s capacity to respond swiftly, efficiently, and economically to challenges like illicit trafficking and fishing.
The 62m by 11m vessels have been crafted by Damen to provide an agile response capability that is both proficient and economical. This vessel represents the first Damen Sea Axe craft to operate in South Africa where, alongside its sister ships, its primary mission will be to combat piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling activities. However, their design allows for quick adaptation to contain mission modules, granting them a genuine multi-mission proficiency. The patented design ensures remarkable sea-keeping performance, with the straight-edged bow slicing through the water to enhance comfort and safety while minimizing emissions and fuel consumption.
The MMIPV initiative is also playing a crucial role in generating skilled employment opportunities and serves as a catalyst for the enhancement of regional supply chains. This project alone is anticipated to yield over one million man-hours of labor during the assembly of the three MMIPVs and will support in excess of 1,000 direct and indirect jobs at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT). Additionally, the yard is prioritizing the support of small enterprises to maximize local content.
Mr. Sam Montsi, Chairman of the Damen Shipyards Cape Town Board, stated: “The delivery represents a remarkable milestone in the journey of Damen Shipyards Cape Town. This is the first instance of a naval vessel of this significance being constructed at the yard and it is also the first of its kind! In spite of the COVID-19 pandemic, this magnificent vessel has been built to the expected quality standards, which is an accomplishment achieved by South African personnel, as most of the work and materials utilized for the construction were procured locally.”
“The yard has significantly developed during this period, both in the caliber of work and the safety standards attained. This project has also enabled the yard to amplify the impact of its transformation strategy by persistently delivering meaningful advancements to the communities of South Africa.”
Efforts on the additional two vessels are progressing well at DSCT, with the second vessel handover scheduled for 2023 and the third for 2024.
