Navy’s ‘iron maiden’ arrives in Walvis Bay

THE Namibian Navy’s new 47-metre vessel, the Brendan Simbwaye, armed with a 40mm cannon and two machine guns, arrived in Walvis Bay from Brazil yesterday.

The ship was built by Brazil Empresa Gerencial de Projectos Navais (EMGEPRON), a state-owned company tied to the Brazilian Navy, and is the first of five vessels ordered by Namibia in 2004 as part of a trade agreement with Brazil.According to Namibia’s Naval Commander, Admiral Peter Viloh, the vessel will increase Namibia’s capacity to defend and patrol national and regional waters.He would not say how much the vessel cost but, according to the Brazilian press, a figure of about N$250 million for the five vessels is involved.The Brendan Simbwaye is considered the flagship, and construction work on the four smaller vessels will start soon.Brendan Simbwaye was one of Namibia’s freedom fighters and a founder of the Caprivi African National Union that joined forces with Swapo during the war of liberation.Although the vessel was welcomed at Walvis Bay yesterday after a 22-day voyage of about 4 000 nautical miles, Deputy Minister of Defence Victor Simunja said it would be officially commissioned on June 2 in Walvis Bay.The acquisition of the new vessels will double the Navy’s fleet, which already consists of six boats.