The navy calls at Knysna

Jul 7, 2005
Author: P&S

Three South African Navy mine warfare vessels are currently visiting Knysna in the Southern Cape.

The three ships are the mine sweeper SAS Kapa (M1223) and the two River class minehunters, SAS Umkomaas (M1499) and SAS Umhloti (M1212).

All three are berthed at the Thesen’s jetty where they will be open to the public from noon until 17.00 for today and tomorrow and between the hours of 10.00 and 17.00 on Saturday and Sunday.

The visit to Knysna continues a long tradition of South African Navy ships calling at Knysna, which for many years has been one of South Africa’s ‘forgotten’ ports.

In other naval news, the fleet combat support vessel SAS Drakensberg, which took part in the Battle of Trafalgar commemoration and Fleet Review off Portsmouth at the end of June, will visit Lagos in Nigeria and Luanda in Angola on her voyage home, the navy has announced.

Drakensberg will be in Lagos for three days from 18 July and in Luanda also for three days from 24 July. The ship is due back in Simon’s Town on 1 August 2005.