Nautic delivering boarding boats to SA Navy

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The Nautic Group will this month deliver five boarding boats to the South African Navy (SAN) that were ordered last year under Project Carol.

Nautic said the vessels are a first in class and designed, engineered, and built throughout by Nautic’s in-house Naval Architecture and Engineering team. The nine metre multi-role vessels form part of Project Carol and are primarily designed for pursuit missions at high speeds in rough conditions.

The design brief required a top speed in excess of 38 knots (70 km/h), bullet proofing, multi-ship communications systems, and large passenger/payload requirements in a small package. Integrated into the brief was also the option to transport the vessels via trailer, lift via helicopter, or launch and recover at sea onto one of the davits aboard the SAN Valour class frigates.

The epoxy infused vessels are powered by twin Volvo D4-260 diesel sterndrives and are capable of carrying 10 crew members. The mid-engined arrangement offers in-house developed shock mitigating seating to operational crew, whilst the boarding party is accommodated aft, Nautic said.

The vessels will be outfitted with a suite of equipment including military specification tactical communications, navigation and tracking systems, touch screen glass cockpit instrumentation, keyless starting, noise cancelling intercom, a drop-in ammunition locker, a customized gun mount pintle interface as well as a pre-heating umbilical cord system and more.

Nautic recently completed the build of these vessels and after extensive sea trials the vessels are set for delivery in early September. Extensive training with SAN personnel has also been successfully carried out by Nautic staff and a number of international contractors within the SAN’s base in Simons Town. Nautic said the vessels will enter service in October.

The multi-purpose boarding craft will be deployed to perform safety and security functions, including boarding operations, intelligence support and rescue missions.

Project Carol, which has been in existence for several years, aims to procure small boats less than 60 metres in length for the SA Navy in the form of boarding boats, diving boats, riverine patrol boats, ship sea boats, ferries, sailing dinghies, an ocean racing yacht and associated trailers.

Nautic Africa and Paramount Naval Systems will be jointly showcasing their maritime solutions at the Africa Aerospace and Defence tradeshow (AAD) scheduled for 14 to 18 September at Air Force Base Waterkloof outside Pretoria.

Paramount Naval Systems will use the opportunity to display a wide range of vessel solutions, integrated mission system and support capabilities at the event, including brand new vessel designs. Nautic Africa’s commercial solutions will also be highlighted. These include the Guardian range of fast intercept boats, 35 metre fast patrol boats and the 14 metre dive support vessel.