CAW re-engages with the S.A. Navy for its second contract

navy repairsThe repairs partnership between CAW and the SA Navy has commenced, as the company undertakes the repair and maintenance of electrical equipment to the Navy’s fleet. The contract with the Department of Defense comes after a successful three years with CAW, having completing the electrical repairs for the valour class SA Navy frigates based across South African shores and in Cape Town and Durban ports.

The repairs partnership between CAW and the SA Navy has commenced, as the company undertakes the repair and maintenance of electrical equipment to the Navy’s fleet. The contract with the Department of Defense comes after a successful three years with CAW, having completing all of the electrical repairs for the valour class SA Navy frigates based across South African shores and in Cape Town and Durban ports.

The frigates are the major surface ships of the South African Navy, comprising of the SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana, SAS Spioenkop, and the SAS Mendi, designed to be capable of conducting sustained and challenging operations at sea. The frigates routine tasks include patrols for the protection of marine resources against poaching and pollution, law enforcement at sea with respect to piracy and the smuggling of contraband.

2017 is a notable year of activity for the fleet. The SAS Amatola will participate in the British Operational Sea Training during the visit to England. It will then proceed to Germany for an exercise with the German Armed forces, Exercise Good Hope VII from February 27th. The vessel will also conduct borderline protection patrols in South African waters and an anti-piracy patrol on the west coast of Africa. Since its departure from Simons’ Town on January 16th, it has visited Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and Namibia, and recently refuelled at Rota, Spain, on February 2. Exercise Good Hope VII will take place between February 27 and March 5. Once completed, the Amatola will make a historic visit to Rostock (previously part of East Germany), before sailing back to Rota to refuel on March 19 and 21.

The SS Mendi is involved in various activities between February 19 and 24, held to commemorate its sinking in 1917. Some of the relatives of the soldiers who died would go to sea with the SAS Amatola to lay a wreath where the SS Mendi sank.
The ship will then visit the following ports for diplomatic visits:

– Tema, Ghana from March 30 – April 3;
– Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from April 6 – April 8;
– Luanda, Angola from April 11– April 13;
– Walvis Bay, Namibia from April 17 – April 19.
The SAS Amatola is scheduled to be back in Simon’s Town on April 22.

Project Manager for CAW, Brett Osborn says that should a breakdown occur on the frigates during their journey, our team of electrical engineers are on call 24/7 to handle support and repairs. “Our team comes with many years of experience, capable of enduring any situation at sea. We couldn’t be better prepared for the SA Navy.”

CAW employs approximately 65 workers in their Super Facility, and has been conducting electric motor repairs since 1970. It is a prime contractor for electric motor repair, engineering and maintenance services for the mining, marine, industrial, steel, parastatals, defense, fishing & maritime, water & sanitation, petrochemical, paper, bottling, and rail industries.

“We will continue our track record of superior service to the SA Navy,” said George Epenetos, Commercial Director.

This partnership enhances CAW’s ability to deliver cost-effective and reliable maintenance and repair services to South Africa.