23/09/2005 - Cape Town harbour
today played host to an unprecedented show
of marine force with the first ever joint
display of the four new environmental protection
vessels of the Department of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism. Arriving on the deck
of the Sarah Baartman via helicopter with
the crew of the fourth and final vessel, the
Victoria Mxenge, Minister of Environmental
Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk
said: “The combined effort of these four vessels,
built at a total cost of R440 million, will
bring new security to our waters and strike
a crushing-blow to the criminal operations
of those who steal our marine resources and
threaten the long-term survival of our fishing
communities.”
The Minister was joined at the event by Mbasa
Mxenge; Viwe Mxenge and Nomhle Mxenge – the
children of the late Victoria Mxenge, as well
as by environmental MEC’s from across South
Africa , senior management of the Department,
and members of the media. “We gather this
morning in the shade of four great vessels
– four namesakes that we have built to honour
four truly great South Africans,” said the
Minister. “Sarah Baartman – the icon who came
to symbolise the return of African dignity;
Ruth First – journalist, academic, and pioneer
of non-racialism; Lilian Ngoyi – leader and
activist whose life embodied the struggle
against injustice; and now today,20 years
after her murder in July 1985, Victoria Mxenge
– nurse, lawyer, and vocal advocate for true
justice. Much as the lives of these four women
brought an iron will to the South African
journey to democracy, their vessels will be
the guardians of our most valuable marine
treasures.”
Speaking about the many successes already
achieved by the first three vessels in the
fleet, the Minister added: “Her three sister-vessels
have not been idle waiting for the Victoria
Mxenge to take her place – they have already
made their presence known, travelling a combined
distance of more than 41 000 nautical miles
since November last year. The three have also
been responsible for 32 arrests; more than
100 inspections; R24 000 in admissions of
guilt; an estimated R1,5 million in confiscated
vessels and equipment; and more than R1,5
million in illegal fishing resources recovered.
Our off-shore flagship, the Sarah Baartman,has
also successfully completed her first bilateral
and trilateral SADC patrols – having ventured
as far north as the waters of Tanzania .”
“Our 54 crew and 30 fishery inspectors aboard
the four vessels will now be able to patrol
a combined total of 1440 nautical miles a
day when simultaneously deployed,” said the
Minister. “Even with a monthly deployment
of only 20 seagoing days, this means that
28 800 nautical miles, or almost our entire
fishing zone could be under the direct protection
of the fleet.”
Paying tribute to the builders of the three
inshore vessels, and announcing plans to further
expand the fleet the Minister said: “All three
have been built right here in South Africa
by Farocean Marine – which has not only seen
Farocean expand its own workforce almost three-fold,
but also injected new life into our local
ship-building industry. It is with great pleasure
therefore that I can announce the awarding
of a new contract to Farocean Marine, for
the construction of a new R100 million inshore
fishery research vessel which will conduct
rock-lobster, line fish, marine mammal, and
environmental research in our coastal waters.
The design is already being undertaken by
Skipsteknisk of Norway,and the first steel
is due to be cut in October this year, with
delivery scheduled for August 2007. As part
of our long-term ship replacement strategy,
we have also recently commenced with a feasibility
study to replace the polar supply and research
ship SA Agulhas by means of a Public Private
Partnership. The project has been registered
with National Treasury and Transaction Advisors
have been appointed to assist the department.
The study is due for completion in April 2006.”we
have also recently commenced with a feasibility
study to replace the polar supply and research
ship SA Agulhas by means of a Public Private
Partnership. The project has been registered
with National Treasury and Transaction Advisors
have been appointed to assist the department.
The study is due for completion in April 2006.”we
have also recently commenced with a feasibility
study to replace the polar supply and research
ship SA Agulhas by means of a Public Private
Partnership. The project has been registered
with National Treasury and Transaction Advisors
have been appointed to assist the department.
The study is due for completion in April 2006.”
“It was Olive Schreiner who wrote that ‘The
measure of its women is ultimately the measure
of any people’s strength and power to resist’,”
said the Minister. “The women of South African
have always been the unbreakable rock that
has anchored our people. It is the women of
our country who have defined our capacity
to fight, to find common ground, and ultimately
to forgive. Today and every day that this
fleet serves our people, we honour the women
of South Africa . They are the heroines of
our history and the champions of our shared
freedom.”
