The Fisheries Branch of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) has signed a six-month contract with Damen Shipyards Cape Town today, Wednesday 3 April 2013, for emergency and urgent vessel repairs and maintenance following the expiry of the Memorandum of Understanding between the DAFF and the SA Navy.
Damen Shipyards Cape Town will be responsible for readying the fleet of vessels and ensure all vessels are seaworthy and reclassified during its term of contract. The priority and immediate focus is to operationalise the Sarah Baartman offshore fisheries patrol- and the Africana fisheries research vessels.
The contract to Damen Shipyards was awarded in accordance to Section 16A, 6.4 of the Public Financial Management Act No 1 of 1999, and the National Treasury Practice Note No 8 of 2007/08, paragraph 3.4.3 which reads ‘in urgent or emergency cases or in case of a sole supplier’.
The fleet comprises six vessels which include two fisheries research vessels and four fisheries patrol vessels.
The tender process for the long term management of the fleet has also commenced and is underway. The process is expected to be concluded in July 2013.
For further information contact:
Carol Moses
Tel: 021 402 3448
Cell: 079 0464589
E-mail: CarolMO@daff.gov.za
