SA Agulhas 2 upgrade for hydrographic surveys a win-win

COURTESY of the Department of Environmental Affairs and African Marine Solutions known as Amsol 10 girls from Lawhill Maritime Centre spent time at sea aboard the polar supply vessel SA Agulhas 2.

The vessel was en route from Cape Town to Simon’s Town where, in the absence of facilities available in Cape Town, she will drydock.

An opportunity to experience life at sea is not to be missed, and will certainly help the Lawhill ladies to decide on the merits of a sea-going career.

The institution has produced a number of female sea-going officers, including two engineers who have completed their examinations for their chief engineer’s certificate of competency, requiring now only to fulfil the mandatory sea-time requirements before getting that sought-after qualification.

Accompanying the Lawhill group to sea aboard SA Agulhas 2 is Captain Godfrey Schlemmer, Lawhill’s meticulous nautical science lecturer, who commanded the original Antarctic supply vessel RSA when she was known as A331 during her two-year spell with the navy.

Built in 1961 along the lines of the Danish vessel Magga Dan that had carried South Africa’s first team to Antarctica, the 68m RSA was rather small for her role as Antarctic supply vessel.

Indeed her freeboard down aft was negligible, prompting some to wonder whether she would survive in the wild conditions down south.

With admirable seamanship displayed by her masters, she did for 17 years! In 2003 Captain Schlemmer also accompanied a group of Lawhill students to Antarctica aboard the 1978built SA Agulhas, now doubling as a cadet training vessel and as the research vessel for Indian oceanographers in the Indian Ocean.

Like her two predecessors, SA Agulhas 2 was custom-built for Antarctic supply and research operations.

Her design is the product of local expertise based on years of Antarctic voyages, and the experience of Finnish shipbuilders who naturally have in-depth knowledge of polar conditions. With her state-of-the-art equipment, she remains the envy of many countries involved in polar research.

Her drydocking in Simon’s Town comes at a most opportune time when the navy is involved with its Project Hotel, the acquisition of a replacement vessel for SAS Protea, the navy’s hydrographic survey ship. Perhaps some naval brass will wander down into the drydock to see her underwater arrangement and possibly, someone will note that, with modification, she will suit the navy’s requirements for a hydrographic survey ship.

I understand that, to fulfil the survey vessel role, SA Agulhas 2 only requires a dedicated chart room for plotting the results of underwater surveys, precision navigation instruments on the bridge, and a multi-beam echo sounder. On deck, a survey launch for shallow water work will also be needed.

Even if there is some other new-fangled gear essential for accurate survey work, the overall cost of modifying an existing vessel is surely far less than that of a new ship.

In any case most of the survey work off the southern African coast has been completed, and only occasional major survey projects are required. As there is considerable geological stability off the coast, there is little likelihood of notable seismic activity that will affect the seabed necessitating additional or urgent survey work.

There are more dire defence needs, notably specialist maritime surveillance aircraft to replace the Noah’s ark squadron of Dakotas that are now grounded, and helicopters for search, rescue and anti-poaching operations. In the light of all this, should the taxpayer really pay for a new hydrographic survey ship that will spend half her life alongside while the existing polar supply ship will also be alongside for months on end?

The public deserves a sensible decision on this issue.