Second Valour Class frigate coming up for refit Written by Kim Helfrich, Thursday, 06 November 2014 Armscor this week posted a tender detail advising its intention to call for a tender for refit of the Valour Class frigate SAS Isandlwana (F146). It will be the second of class, acquired as part of the Strategic Defence Procurement Package in 1999, to undergo a refit. SAS Amatola (F145), commissioned in September 2005, is currently at Southern African Shipyards’ (SAS’s) Durban facility undergoing a complete refit, excluding armament. Apart from calling it “a multi-million Rand contract” no further financial details have been made available on one of the single largest work packages awarded by the SA Navy to the private sector since democracy. The Amatola contract is due to be completed by March next year and while the Armscor requirement carries a “confidential” classification, expectations are the Isandlwana refit will only start once Amatola is certified as seaworthy following her refit. This will give the navy a frigate capability of three, in line with its business plan of one at sea, one in training and one in reserve. Marine and navy watchers are waiting with bated breath to see the attend list at the bidders’ conference to be held at the Simon’s town dockyard “from December 1” according to the Armscor website’s Tender portal. This is because the dockyard, operated by Armscor for the past seven years, could not handle the Amatola refit. According to the state defence and security procurement’s agency’s annual report, the dockyard found itself facing the challenges of insufficient capacity, capabilities and funding. The annual report further said a major transformation programme was needed for the facility. This would include people, processes, procedures and facilities to bring it up to the required standard. While a study has been commissioned with a view to improving the dockyard’s status, there is no indication at present of whether it would be able to handle the refit of the frigate. Assuming Amatola is seaworthy around the middle of next year, Navy management will be looking at which of the remaining two Valour Class frigates are next in line for refit. SAS Spioenkop (F147) was commissioned in March 2004 with SAS Mendi (F148) following three months later. Amatola was commissioned in September 2005 and Isandlwana’s commissioning date was December 19, 2004.
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:22:49 +0000
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