Having delivered nearly five decades of service to the regional and international maritime industry since she was built in Durban in 1976 the iconic ocean-going Emergency Towing Vessel SA AMANDLA is to be retired for recycling.
Almost 48 years old, she was brought into service as the JOHN ROSS built by Elgin Brown & Hamer launched as S.A.JOHN ROSS trading until 1977 , where she was renamed as JOHN ROSS.
Berthed at Flagstone Wharf, Grand Harbour, Malta back in 2000.
And below leaving Harbour –
The timeous actions of the Masters, Officers and Crew who sailed on her have saved many lives, prevented countless marine casualties from occurring and also tonnes of marine fuel from polluting the South African coast.
Together with her sister, the WOLRAAD WOLTEMADE of which she was broken up in India in 2010, both vessels represented the first government subsidized emergency response capability in the world.
Here back to 1999 leaving Valletta from Malta Drydocks.
SA AMANDLA is on contract to the Department of Transport and working with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to respond to maritime emergencies on the South African coast, the tug is a key part of the State’s pollution prevention strategy. She is on standby 24/7 at her home port of Cape Town, ready to respond to a callout within 30 minutes.
Here as SMIT AMANDLA.
With a length overall (loa) of 95 metres and beam of 15 metres, she is due to start her final voyage during September 2023.