South African Special Forces have taken delivery of a 20 metres workboat from Veecraft Marine. The workboat Inkanyamba will be used to transport personnel and equipment as well as to undertake training exercises.
Inkanyamba is not the first boat supplied by Veecraft, Veecraft which is part of the Paramount Group has previously delivered vessels to the South African Navy. In May 2017, the company launched two 11 metre long workboats to support their activities on the Langebaan Lagoon.
The company has previously supplied vessels for Project Xena riverine patrol boats for the Maritime Reaction Squadron.
With a service speed of 15 knots (maximum speed is 18 knots) at a deadweight load of 20 tonnes, Inkanyamba features a forward deckhouse with wheelhouse above and a 25 square metre aft cargo deck, able to accommodate 10 tonnes of cargo. The deckhouse is fitted with galley and mess areas along with two bathrooms and a deck locker accessible from the cargo deck. Four crew and 16 passengers can be accommodated. The wheelhouse is arranged for 360-degree visibility, including an unobstructed view of the cargo deck.
The vessel is powered by two MAN D2862 LE431 marine engines rated at 588 kw (at 1800 rpm) driving Teignbridge fixed pitch propellers through ZF 2050 gearboxes.
Below deck includes two 7.5 cubic meter cargo holds with access hatches above, engine room, fuel and water tanks, and a crew accommodation space. The crew accommodation features three staterooms each with three bunks for a total capacity of twelve crew members.
Inyamaba also features a robust fendering system and heavy towing bollards on each end of the vessel, Incat Crowther said.