The South African Navy (SAN) held a low-key blessing ceremony on 12 February for its first Multi Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV) at Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT).
In all, three MMIPVs — being built by DSCT for the SAN under Project Biro — will be used for missions such as maritime patrol and EEZ protection missions.
‘This vessel will be crucial in search and rescue operations and a critical link in security operations. The reconfigurability of the ship makes it a force multiplier in any littoral environment for the SA Navy,’ Chief of the SAN, VAdm Mosiwa Hlongwane, said during the blessing ceremony.
Names for the three vessels are yet to be officially announced. Each MMIPV will be 62.2m long with a beam of 11.5m and draft of 4m, carrying a crew of 48. The 1,031t vessels will have a maximum speed of 30kt and range of 5,000nmi.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, the first MMPIV may enter service as early as mid-2021, followed by the second in 2022 and the third in 2023.
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Project Biro (1-3) [South Africa]
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