SANDF getting new workboat

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Veecraft Marine will supply a 20 metre workboat to the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), which will use it for personnel and equipment transport and training up to 15 kilometres off the coast.

Australia-headquartered marine engineering design company Incat Crowther on 18 September announced it had received a design contract from Cape Town-based Veecraft for the supply of the monohull workboat.
“The vessel is designed in accordance with BV [Bureau Veritas] requirements and in compliance with flag state rules as defined by South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) for Category C vessels,” Incat Crowther said.

The main deck features a forward deckhouse with wheelhouse above and a 25 square metre aft cargo deck. The deckhouse is fitted with galley and mess areas along with two bathrooms and a deck locker accessible from the cargo deck. The wheelhouse is arranged for 360-degree visibility, including an unobstructed view of the cargo deck.

The cargo deck of the aluminium vessel is able to accommodate a 6m ISO container and is also fitted with a 5 ton marine crane. A foldable dive platform is fitted aft of the transom along with stairs integrated into the main deck to provide safe access.

Below deck includes two 7.5 cubic meter cargo holds with access hatches above, engine room, fuel and water tanks, and a crew accommodation space. The crew accommodation features three staterooms each with three bunks for a total capacity of twelve crew members.

Other notable features include a robust fendering system and heavy towing bollards on each end of the vessel, Incat Crowther said.

With a service speed of 16 knots at a deadweight load of 20 tonnes, the vessel will be powered by two MAN D2862 LE431 marine engines rated at 588 kw (at 1800 rpm) driving Teignbridge fixed pitch propellers through ZF 2050 gearboxes.

The vessel will be the sixteenth Incat Crowther vessel built by Veecraft in less than a decade.

It is believed the vessel will be used by the South African Special Forces. Veecraft has previously supplied vessels to the service – in May last year it launched two workboats to support their activities on the Langebaan Lagoon. The vessels are 11 metres long, have a gross tonnage of 11.6 tonnes and are powered by a six cylinder MAN D2866 LXE40 main diesel engine developing between 190 and 279 kW, giving a speed of 12 knots. The boats will provide support for diving operations as well as the servicing of anchor buoys.

Veecraft Marine specialises in manufacturing steel and aluminium vessels for government and private clients around the globe. In 2014 it was acquired by Nautic Africa, part of the Paramount Group. Veecraft has previously supplied vessels to the South African Navy, such as Project Xena riverine patrol boats for the Maritime Reaction Squadron.