defenceWeb
Written by defenceWeb -
SAS Galeshewe (P1567) docked at what was Naval Station Durban, now again a naval base.
While the offshore patrol vessel (OPV) SAS Galeshewe (P1567) might be said to be decommissioned, the Navy Office in Pretoria has it the former strikecraft is “currently in Class 1 Reserve”.
This means, according to a statement from SA Navy (SAN) headquarters in Visagie Street, Galeshewe can be recommissioned “if we would be able to do so”.
SAS Isaac Dyobha (P1565) and SAS Makhanda (P1569) are currently the maritime service’s lone patrol vessels until at least the middle of this year when delivery of the first multi-mission inshore patrol vessel (MMIPV) is expected. A contract for three MMIPVs was entered into between Armscor, government’s defence and security acquisition agency, and Damen Shipyards Cape Town under Project Biro. The original call for six platforms – three inshore and three offshore – was cut due to lack of funding.