Damen completes Patrol vessels

Completed vessels are first of their type to be built in South Africa.

Damen completes first FCS 5009 Patrol vessels in South Africa

Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) has finished building two FCS 5009 Patrol vessels, the first of their type to be built in South Africa. Another vessel of the same class is already in operation with the Cape Verdean Coast Guard.

DSCT said it has prepared the vessels for outfitting with Reutech Sea Rogue weaponry; a system that includes a 20 mm cannon forward of the wheelhouse and two 12.7mm Browning guns fitted respectively port and starboard of the wheelhouse. The Sea Rogue can be operated by a hand controller and has an accurate target-tracking feature. Working with manufacturer Reutech, DSCT can install the weaponry in a matter of days.

“The FCS 5009 is deliverable in two formats. It can be either a fast crew supply ship or a security patrol vessel,” says DSCT Chairman Sam Montsi, explaining that, though the vessels are complete and ready to go, they still possess flexibility. DSCT is able to carry out the final conversion for either option within a matter of weeks. They are also the first in their class to be outfitted with MTU engines that offer a better power to weight ratio for increased speed. “What this shows is the flexibility of Damen vessels,” continued Montsi. “Even though we build for stock, the design of the vessels means they are capable of accommodating a range of different features to match specific requirements.”

To continue reading, please click here.

Source: defenceweb.co.za