![]() To build the new cradles old Damen transport cradles were cut up to provide the components which were welded together into the new required design and form. “We were happy to help with the preservation of this historic naval vessel which will bring much joy to maritime enthusiasts once it opens its hatch to the public.” “Damen was approached by the Submarine Museum Team acting for the Naval Heritage Trust on behalf of the Naval Museum, as we have experience in this field and were willing to sponsor their part of the work required,” says Wafeeq Fakier, DSCT’s Project Manager for the construction of the cradles. The museum was closed to the public in 2015 and will reopen once the Naval Heritage Trust has secured the necessary funding. The cradles will hold the submarine in place when it takes up its home next to the False Bay Yacht Club and NSRI Station 10 in Simon’s Town. ![]() The submarine vessel will then be moved from the synchro lift where it is currently held to its display position and placed on the newly built foundations. Work on the cradles started on November 2022. Once the Assegaai Museum is in place, she will be the 125th museum submarine in the world, but only the 7th in the Southern Hemisphere and the first one in Africa! This is indeed a noteworthy accomplishment.”įrom left to right: Arif Montsi (Director, Damen Shipyards Cape Town), Mike Bosazza (Chairman, Naval Heritage Trust), V Adm Monde Lobese (Chief of the South African Navy), Sefale Montsi (Director, Damen Shipyards Cape Town), Mpho Peecha (Executive Manager, Armscor Naval Dockyard), Jankees Trimpe Burger (Managing Director, Damen Shipyards Cape Town) That dream was to make sure that we as the South African Navy, can have the first – and only – submarine museum on the African continent. Speaking at the unveiling of the cradles and submarine in Cape Town Vice on Monday Admiral Lobese said: “Today we also celebrate the hard work, dedication, perseverance and never-give-up attitude of a handful of volunteers who absolutely refused to give up on their dream. At the same ceremony Vice Admiral Lobese also handed over certificates of appreciation to the DSCT employees who worked on the cradle construction. On 14 August the cradles were officially handed over to the Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral Monde Lobese. The two cradles, each 3.6m long x 9.1m wide, weigh 7 tonnes and were built using steel salvaged from old Damen ship transport cradles. There are 124 preserved naval submarines in the world - only six are in the southern hemisphere and the Assegaai Submarine will be the first in Africa. ![]() The Assegaai Submarine Museum is the only preserved naval submarine on the continent. Cape Town, 15 August 2023 - Nearly eight years since it was closed to visitors, South Africa’s famous submarine museum is coming ashore thanks to two specially constructed cradles from shipbuilder Damen Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT). ![]()
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