Second tug for South African Navy
A Damen ATD 2909 Tug on order for the South African Navy is in production at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT), Damen announced on 22 July.
This is the second of two tugs on order from the shipyard, which together will replace the navy’s existing harbour and coastal tugs, De Neys and De Mist. The first built was delivered earlier this month, and the second will follow in January 2016.
The tugs, named Inyathi (Buffalo in English) and Imvubu (Hippo) are SAMSA Class VIII vessels, equipped with rigid foundations, extra plate thickness, extra brackets and extra fendering.
They will perform towing, mooring and fire-fighting operations to assist the navy’s current and future fleet of vessels under all-weather, heavy sea, restricted visibility, day and night conditions within the confines of the Southern African ports and in coastal waters.
The tugs have a bollard pull of 43 tonnes, a length of 29m, a beam of 9.98m, a maximum speed of 13.2 knots and a propulsion system of two Caterpillar 3512C HD engines with a total power of 3,000 bkW at 1,600 rpm. They are outfitted with Rolls Royce US 205 azimuth thrusters.
Commander Hermann van Geems, South African Navy project officer, said: ‘We were looking for a proven design and a commercial off-the-shelf product. Damen Shipyards Cape Town’s bid had the highest points combined with the right contract price.
‘After the successful submission of the Armscor tender, DSCT was selected as the preferred bidder. The project team managing the acquisition describes the working relationship with Damen and the assistance it has received as excellent.’
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How France’s SNLE 3G programme is reshaping the naval nuclear industrial base]()
How France’s SNLE 3G programme is reshaping the naval nuclear industrial base
Extending far beyond a four-submarine replacement programme, France’s ballistic missile submarine effort is a decades-long industrial initiative designed to preserve the country’s ability to build and sustain nuclear-powered strategic platforms.
-
![China’s mineral processing dominance exposes naval supply chain vulnerabilities]()
China’s mineral processing dominance exposes naval supply chain vulnerabilities
Competition for critical minerals, and China’s dominance of their processing, is emerging as a decisive factor in future naval procurement programmes.
-
![Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition]()
Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition
Australia’s mine countermeasure capability remains in flux as the Huon-class nears retirement, but accelerated investment in autonomous systems is opening a path for industry.
-
![Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?]()
Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?
As the Iran War draws US ships and marine corps units away from the Indo-Pacific, curtailed exercises and a temporary carrier gap are exposing tensions between Washington’s demand for more self-reliant allies and the joint training needed to realise that ambition.
-
![How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?]()
How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?
With Canada committed to its River-class replacement and the USN pursuing a lower-cost frigate, Rheinmetall will need to demonstrate where the GMF 140 can fill a capability gap in the North American fleet.
