The second of three Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs) for the South African Navy (SAN) was launched and christened with the breaking of a bottle of champagne over its bow and raising of the South African flag from its mast, at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT), on 14 October.
The second vessel will be named SAS Adam Kok and the third SAS King Shaka. Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) noted in a statement that the vessel will be delivered to the SAN in 2023 ‘after extensive acceptance trials’, and the final MMIPV will follow in 2024. The third vessel of the class will be delivered one year later in April 2024.
Sefale Montsi, Director at DSCT said: “With this ceremony, this vessel will soon join her sister, SAS King Sekhukhune II in successfully sailing South African and international waters. The project continues to meet the client’s specifications, on time and within budget. Damen Shipyards Cape Town and our growing local supply chain stand ready to deliver more of these much-needed vessels to our navy.”
“The project continues to meet the client’s specifications, on time and within budget. DSCT and our growing local supply chain stand ready to deliver more of these much-needed vessels to our navy.”
“We are pleased with the progress that has been made thus far”, said Armscor Group Executive Acquisition and Supply Chain Management, Meshak Teffo. “We are committed to providing the South African National Defence Force with state-of-the-art defence materiel they require to protect the sovereignty of the country. This MMIPV Project demonstrates our capability to deliver complex acquisition solutions. We are looking forward to the delivery of this second Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel next year.”
The first MMPIV (King Sekhukhune II) was delivered in May 2022 by DSCT, four years after it was awarded the Project Biro contract. It was launched in March of that year. SAS Sekhukhune was delivered to the Simon’s Town naval base on 18 May, and will now await commissioning before being moved to Naval Base Durban, the home base for the patrol squadron.
The MMIPVs, built to the Stan Patrol 6211 design, have a maximum speed of 26.5 knots, a range of 4 000 nautical miles, systems crew of up to 62. The vessels will each carry one 7-metre-long RHIB and one 9-metre-long RHIB for boarding operations. Each MMPIV is 62m long with a beam of 11m, based on the Damen Sea Axe design.
Combat equipment will include a combat management system, radar, forward gun position and heavy machinegun positions. Reutech is supplying 20 mm Super Sea Rogue turrets with Denel GI2 cannons, as well as RTS 3200 Optronics Radar Tracker (FORT) systems and communications systems.
The MMIPVs are based on Damen FCS 5009 Axe Bow design, which ensures low resistance, high sustained speed in waves and superior sea-keeping characteristics in the toughest conditions.
Reutech is supplying 20 mm Super Sea Rogue turrets with Denel GI2 cannons, as well as RTS 3200 Optronics Radar Tracker (FORT) systems, Kelvin Hughes SharpEye radar systems, and communications systems.