Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) handed over the first of three state-of-the-art Multi Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPVs) to the South African Navy in a boost to its anti-piracy and smuggling operations, during a ceremony at the Simon’s Town Naval Base last week.
DSCT said the ceremony marked the culmination of four years of work for the shipbuilding firm. The vessel would augment South Africa’s maritime security by enhancing the country’s capability to respond rapidly and cost-effectively to threats such as illegal trafficking and fishing, DSCT said in a statement.
The company said the 62-metre by 11-metre vessels had been designed to deliver a rapid response capability that is both effective and cost-efficient. The vessel is the first Damen Sea Axe vessel to operate in South Africa where, along with its sister ships, its primary role will be to counter piracy, illegal fishing and smuggling operations.
However, the vessels’ ability to accommodate containerised mission modules at short notice gives them a multi-mission capability. The patented design includes reduced emissions and fuel consumption.
The MMIPV project is also playing a role in creating skilled new jobs and acting as a catalyst for the development of regional supply chains. The project is expected to generate more than one million man-hours of work during the construction of the three MMIPVs and will support more than 1 000 direct and indirect jobs at DSCT. The yard is also focusing on nurturing small businesses to maximise local content.
Board chairman Sam Montsi said the delivery of the first vessel was a “significant milestone” for the shipyard.
“It is the first time that a naval vessel of this calibre has been built at the yard and it is also the first of its class. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, this beautiful vessel has been built to the required quality level, which is an achievement that was realised by South African people, as most of the work and materials that went into the construction were sourced locally,” Montsi said.
“The yard has significantly grown during this process, both in the quality of work and the safety standards achieved. This project has also allowed the yard to increase the impact of its transformation strategy by consistently delivering relevant development to the communities of South Africa.”
Work on the remaining two vessels is well under way at DSCT, with the second vessel handover planned for 2023 and the third for 2024.
