Ray Smuts
CAPE Town's ship-building expertise has been recognised yet again, this time by an order for a patrol craft from Nigeria.
The black and white-hulled Stella O was completed more than a month ahead of schedule by Farocean Marine before being lowered gently into the waters of Table Bay Harbour by Portnet's floating crane Inkunzi recently.
Capable of a top speed of around 27 knots generated by two powerful 4 260bhp engines, Stella O will be utilised for customs, fisheries inspection and police and coast guard duties but is also ideally suited to search and rescue operations.
Built with an aluminium superstructure, the 27m craft has a steel hull designed as a semi-displacement type in order to keep movement to the minimum for the comfort of the crew. Detailed work aboard the vessel will now be completed before she is handed over to her owners, the Nigerian Maritime Authority.
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