THE FIRST of South Africa's four purpose-built fishery and environmental protection vessels has been launched at the Damen Shipyard Galati in Romania.

The 80-metre offshore protection vessel Sarah Baartman was launched sideways into the River Danube in what Alan Robertson, project manager of the South African government's vessel procurement programme, described as a "textbook launch."

Horst Kleinschmidt, head of the South African fisheries department, expressed his satisfaction with the build quality of the vessel and complimented the shipbuilders for delivering Sarah Baartman on time and within budget.

"This vessel will put us right at the top of fisheries protection capacity in the world. We cannot wait to get her operational, " says Horst Kleinschmidt.

All her main machinery and propulsion systems have been installed, and the engineroom and all auxiliary machinery spaces are complete. The installation of pipe work, air conditioning, insulation and interior bulkheads are well advanced.

Following the launch, the ship will undergo further fitting out and provisional machinery alignment, prior to being towed to Vlissingen, the Netherlands, for further installations.

Sarah Baartman is due to be handed over to the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism on December 3, and is due to arrive in Cape Town during the third week of December.

She has an overall length of 83 metres and will carry a crew of 29, including seven fishery control officers and four cadet officers.

Sarah Baartman has a range of 7500 miles at 15 knots, a chase speed in excess of 20 knots and will be capable of remaining at sea for up to 45 days.

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