Kongsberg equipment for South African Navy
Kongsberg Maritime, through its partner Unique Group, has been selected to deliver an integrated hydroacoustic and bridge system technology package for the South African Navy’s new survey vessel.
The hydrographic survey vessel is being built by Southern African Shipyards in Durban. Due for delivery in 2022, the new 95m long and 17.5m wide ship will replace the SAS Protea, which has been in service since 1972.
Being built to a VARD Canada ice-strengthened design, the vessel will have a maximum speed of 18kt, 10,000 nautical mile range and 44 day endurance that will enable the navy to perform high quality mapping surveys throughout the southern hemisphere.
Kongsberg will deliver a survey package including the EM 304 deep water multibeam echo sounder, EM 2040 shallow water multibeam echo sounder, TOPAS PS 40 parametric sub-bottom profiler, EA640 single beam echo sounder, K-Sync synchronisation system, MDM 500 marine data management system and Seapath 380-R3 combined GNSS and inertial navigation system.
The vessel will also feature the K-Bridge integrated navigation system and K-Pos dynamic positioning to ensure safe and efficient navigation and manoeuvring.
For three survey motor boats, Kongsberg will deliver hydroacoustic equipment including EM 2040 shallow water multibeam echo sounder, EA440 single beam echo sounder and Seapath 130-R3 combined GNSS and inertial navigation system.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls]()
How the Hormuz mine threat exposes potential Baltic MCM shortfalls
Ageing Baltic vessels and an absence of active minehunting vessel programmes in the region have been put under the spotlight in the recent conflict.
-
![“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling]()
“We must end the mentality of ever larger platforms”: Why USVs are scaling
Multiple USV programme milestones announced last week, aligned with a reinforcement of the Royal Navy’s vision for a hybrid fleet, point to innovation-led ambition but also to a structural calculation with resource ceilings that neither London nor Washington can ignore.
-
![As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging]()
As uncrewed naval systems advance, capabilities to counter them are emerging
Research programmes and system procurement efforts to counter uncrewed surface and underwater vehicle threats are accelerating as naval drone uptake spreads.
-
![US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027]()
US Coast Guard to receive the first three Offshore Patrol Cutters in FY2026 and FY2027
After recording a nearly six-year delay in the OPC schedule, the USCG intends to advance with the programme, reaching multiple milestones in the short term.
