Navy looks at ways and means to stay afloat

Despite a “ding” to a submarine and questions being raised over planned acquisitions and manpower concerns, it is all systems go for the SA Navy and its multibillion-rand fleet.

This was the message delivered at Admiralty House in Simon’s Town, Cape Town, on Thursday, when the chief of the navy and his senior staff officers delivered their annual address on the state of the navy to the media.

Facing a barrage of questions, officers – who revealed that the navy’s 2012/13 budget would be more than R2.5 billion – played down concerns around the navy and its capabilities, saying here was nothing to worry about.

Senior officers remained mum on the progress made and details of the costs that would be involved in the planned acquisition of six new patrol vessels, under Project Biro. The three inshore and three offshore vessels are to replace the ageing strike craft, bought 32 years ago.

“Our navy is the navy the people need,” said navy chief Vice-Admiral Johannes Mudimu.

“If we are required to provide all our vessels, then we will provide all our vessels. We have that capability.”

Hitting back at past critics, Rear Admiral Bernhard Teuteberg, chief director of maritime strategy, said the people stationed on the navy’s vessels and bases were doing the country proud.

“The navy is the maritime shield of the country and provides prepared support for the maritime defence and protection of South Africa,” he said.

“The intent was never to have a large navy, but a small world-class navy which was the continent’s leading navy, which can meet its requirements and is able to fight to win at sea.”

Teuteberg said the number of days the frigates and submarines had spent at sea had far surpassed the time required.

“The frigates were expected to have 200 days at sea, yet 253 were spent at sea, while the submarines spent 157 days at sea, 37 more than required. Our men and women have gone beyond the call of duty.”

Commenting on staffing numbers and the budget spent on equipment, personnel and operating costs, Teuteberg said there were 7 196 posts, but only 5 094 were filled.

“Sixty-two percent of the budget is spent on personnel, 30 percent on operating costs and 7.5 percent on capital expenditure.

“The budget for the next financial year will be R2.5bn, which excludes the capital spending of R56 million.

“To operate the submarines we will spend R88m a year over the next 30 years, while the cost to operate the frigates will be R194m a year over the next three decades.

“Our cost modelling structure is extremely economical and way below international standards.

“While we have done extremely well so far with our equipment, we will need more, especially when it comes to inshore and offshore patrol boats, strategic sealift, combat support and hydrography and surveillance vessels.

“These types of vessels we have now simply have to be replaced as many are over 25 years old.”

Teuteberg said the focus was on the revitalisation of the Simon’s Town dockyard to increase its capacity, the establishment of the planned Durban naval base, which would be the home port of the new patrol vessels, and the continued life cycle management of the navy's vessels.

Commenting on Project Biro, Admiral Alan Claydon-Fink, director of naval acquisitions, said:

“We are doing a costing study report, which will be presented to our seniors.

“While we have a budget, we will tailor our requirements to meet this budget, which I will not discuss now.”

Admiral Rusty Higgs, chief of naval staff, mentioning a recent ding to a submarine, which he played down, referring to it as a “fender-bender”, said a lot of submariners had left the service

“We have, however, turned the situation around and are operating well above our targets, with two submarines being deployed to the Mozambique Channel last year.” - Pretoria News