South African newbuilding

Just when they thought things could not get better, the owners of Farocean Marine, a private shipbuilding company in Cape Town, have landed a $15 million contract.

This after they, in the face of international competition, secured a $67 million contract with the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism in South Africa to build one offshore and three inshore vessels to replace the department’s ageing environmental protection fleet.

This latest contract is for the construction of an inshore fishery research vessel that will replace ?Sardinops?. The new vessel will conduct rock lobster, line fishing, marine mammal and environmental research off South Africa’s coast. The newbuilding is being designed in Norway by Skipsteknisk and delivery of the 43-metre long vessel is slated for 2007. The yard has access to technological support from the Dutch shipbuilding group of Damen Shipyards.