Namibia’s fleet to double in size, N$250m price tag

THE Namibian Navy’s fleet will soon double in size, with the acquisition of five vessels from Brazil at an estimated cost of N$250 million, according to media reports from Brazil this week.

The first one, a 46,5-metre-long warship named after former Namibian freedom fighter Brendan Simbwaye, is expected to arrive at the Walvis Bay Naval Base in March.The Permanent Secretary of Defence, Peter Shivute, on Wednesday, confirmed the reports to The Namibian.’We will have the official commissioning of the vessel in March, and the media will be invited and then you will get all the information you need,’ he said. He said the Brendan Simbwaye will be the navy’s largest vessel and the only brand new one.Asked about the other four vessels, Shivute said: ‘They’re not vessels; they are boats’. He also would not divulge any information on the cost of the vessels.The vessels were apparently ordered in 2004 as part of a trade agreement between the two countries, according to the reports.The vessels will have both offshore patrol and combat capabilities to defend the coast and will also be used to train naval personnel.The acquisition will double the navy’s fleet, which already consists of six vessels, including patrol boats.The Brendan Simbwaye will apparently be armed with a 40mm cannon and machine guns and be able to achieve a speed of 26,5 knots.According to the Brazilian News Source Info (NSI), Empresa Gerencial de Projectos Navais (EMGEPRON), a state-owned company tied to the Brazilian Navy, guaranteed the ship’s quality as well as the armament installation. It also reported that the company will provide the Namibian Navy with logistic support.NSI said the vessel was commissioned on January 16 at the INACE shipyard in the presence of the Brazilian Defence Minister and Namibia’s Minister of Defence, Charles Namoloh. Shivute confirmed this too. – adam@namibian.com.na