Transnet to auction submarine

Transnet is set to retrieve
hundreds of thousands of
rand in overdue port charges
after winning a Cape High
Court order to auction off
a number of vessels, one a
submarine in fine working
fettle.
With a diving limit of
500 metres, the Taurus is
not exactly the kind of thing
for exploring deep-down
Titanic but has successfully
been used for scientific
research and educational
diving programmes in Loch
Ness, Scotland, as well as in
a research programme off
Jamaica.
The auction date is set for
September 16.
The submarine was
arrested as an associated
vessel of the Golden Firefly
– a former Royal Navy
minesweeper latterly used
for surveying and the like
– in that they were owned
by the same entity, hence
the plan to auction them
together.
That is not to be, however,
says Ariella Kuper,
director of new business
development at Auction
Alliance, given that a twoparty
spat has developed
over ownership of Taurus.
In terms of the court
order, a reserve was placed
on Taurus which Kuper is
not inclined to disclose, save
to say the vessel is estimated
to be worth around
R4 million and that between
R1.5 million and R2 million
is anticipated when the
auction eventually proceeds.
Between them, Golden
Firefly and Taurus owe
Transnet more than
R758 000 in mooring fees,
over and above substantial
legal bills incurred over a
lengthy period.
The wooden-hull
Golden Firefly, at one
time estimated to be worth
some R5 million, has
subsequently been flooded
and was sold for scrap,
together with several other
vessels at the Cape Town offices of Webber Wentzel
last month.
Interest in Taurus has
been surprising, most of it
local. “I could hardly believe
it,” says Kuper.
The 22-ton minisubmarine
is capable of a
maximum speed of three
knots and comes with a
lower command chamber
and four tower view points.
An inspection certificate
from surveying firm,
Paul Coxon Associates
says Taurus is suitable
for scientific research,
underwater tourism, search
and salvage and a range of
military tasks.
A multi-purpose
submersible, she was
designed for atmosphere
diving operations with diver
lock-out, dry transfer and
submarine rescue.