The South African Navy will now be getting one of its survey motor boats (SMB) designed and built by Paramount Group company and supplied by its subsidiary Veecraft Marine.
The Survey motor boat which was launched today, 25 August will now proceed to undertake standard Harbour trials and Sea Acceptance testing before being delivered to the South African Navy.
The survey boats were built as part of the upgrade of the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO) facilities and capabilities, under Project Hotel.
Project Hotel comprises of three Survey Motor Boats and a Sea Boat. Apparently, construction of the hull of the sea boat is 66% complete and will be delivered on schedule.
The Survey Motor Boats are 11 metre long, mounted with two twin Volvo Penta duo-prop propellers.
Survey Motor Boat hosts two twin Volvo Penta duo-prop propellers, providing for greater fuel efficiency and effective and predictable handling alongside a Volvo Penta D3 joystick helm control system.
The vessel’s advanced survey equipment includes Multi-Beam and Single-Beam echo-sounders and Side-Scan Sonar and a Seabed Sampler to recover sample material from the sea-floor and underlying sub-strata for detailed analytical and testing purposes. The vessel capabilities allow for nearshore shallow water surveys in depths of up to 300 metres.
SAN personnel has been fully trained to handle the Survey Motor Boat’s next-generation survey systems.
A spokesperson of Veecraft Marine, stated: “Despite the operational challenges presented by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the successful delivery of the first in a fleet of Survey Motor Boats is a testament to the ingenuity and steadfast dedication of our team.
This boat is the most advanced survey vessel currently in production globally. We are privileged to continue to support the South African Navy in pioneering the innovative design, manufacture and delivery one of the most comprehensive, sophisticated survey vessels to be built entirely within South Africa”.