Southern African Shipyards (SAS) has almost completed the mid-life refit of the SAS Amatola, which is due to be handed back to the South African Navy at the end of this month, and is bidding to carry out the mid-life refit of sister ship SAS Isandlwana.
Prasheen Maharaj, CEO of Southern African Shipyards, told defenceWeb that all the refit work has been done and that the vessel is currently being commissioned, with harbour and sea acceptance trials to commence shortly. Sea trials could take between one and two weeks.
SAS Amatola arrived at Southern African Shipyards premises in Durban in March last year after the company received the contract for the complete refit of the vessel (excluding armament) – one of the largest projects tackled by a South African company for the South African Navy (SAN). Part of the programme involved the removal of the Amatola’s diesel engines in order for refurbishment.
SAS Amatola is the first of the Navy’s four Valour class frigates. She was launched in June 2002 and commissioned into service in February 2006. She is 121 metres long and displaces 3 700 tons.
After Amatola, SAS is now bidding for the tender on the mid-life refit of the SAS Isandlwana, with bids closing on 2 July. Maharaj said that only two companies submitted bids for the Amatola refit, but now that private industry has shown it can be done, the Isandlwana tender will be more competitive. SAS previously changed an engine on Isandlwana.
Maharaj told defenceWeb that Southern African Shipyards would also like to get involved in the eventual replacement of the Navy’s fleet replenishment vessel SAS Drakensberg but although this is on the company’s radar, no official requirements have been issued by Armscor.
Maharaj said that Projects Hotel and Biro, for a new hydrographic survey vessel and three inshore and three offshore patrol vessels respectively, is keeping his company busy. SAS plans to function as a prime contractor on these projects, bringing in different subcontractors and suppliers. For instance, SAS is offering Vard (formerly STX) designs for Biro and Hotel but with different propulsion and other components. Denel will provide mission systems, mainly through Denel Integrated Systems and Maritime. Such a modular approach will allow SAS to offer similar projects to other countries.
The date tenders close for Project Biro has been extended to 30 September this year while Project Hotel tender bids close on 30 June.
