South Africa Receives Third Inshore Patrol Vessel From Damen
Damen Shipyards Cape Town has delivered the third Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV), SAS Adam Kok (P1573), to the South African Navy.
The Warrior-class ship was handed over at Naval Base Durban in eastern South Africa, following its final technical and quality inspections to ensure operability for future coastline safeguarding missions.
Naval Base Durban will serve as the patrol squad’s home port. P1573’s operational deployment date has yet to be revealed.
Over 1,000 direct and 4,000 indirect jobs were created to complete the ship and its sister vessels P1571 and P1572.
All three patrol vessels were commissioned by the Department of Defence under Project Biro, which seeks to enhance the country’s patrol capabilities while bolstering local industrial growth through Damen’s on-site Skills Development Centre.
Over 50 apprentices were trained in essential trades including welding, outfitting, electrical systems, pipe-fitting, and logistics.
The Warrior-Class Ships
Designed with endurance, versatility, and operational excellence in mind, the MMIPVs can conduct search and rescue, diving, and border protection missions.
Each ship has a 20mm Super Sea Rogue gun, a Frequency Modulated Optical Radar Tracker surveillance system, and seven- and nine-meter (23 and 29.5 feet) interceptor boats for rapid deployment.
The deck also has a knuckle boom crane and two single-point lifting davits that can lift equipment as heavy as 5.7 tons (11,400 pounds).
It has a cruising speed of 20 knots (23 miles/37 kilometers per hour) and can reach up to 26.5 knots (30.5 miles/49 kilometers per hour) with a 4,600-mile (7,400-kilometer) range.
