South Africa’s SAS Assegaai, a decommissioned navy submarine, was carefully manoeuvred into a strategic new location over the weekend — to prepare for life as a museum on dry land.
The 700-ton, 58m Daphné-class submarine was one of three that predated the existing Heroine-class submarines (procured under the controversial 1999 arms deal). During her service years SAS Assegaai took part in several clandestine special operations, including during South Africa’s “Border War” with Angola.
Having spent most of her life trying not to be seen, she will now hopefully be seen by as many people as possible in a new educational role under the stewardship of a team of retired navy officers.
“It is a 21-year-old dream coming true as the idea was first mooted in the media when she was decommissioned in 2003,” said Rear-Admiral Arne Söderlund from the Naval Heritage Trust, which is managing the project with the South African Navy. “The first phase is now complete and we must now restore her appearance and the museum facilities to be able to open her for visitors before the end of the year.
“This was only achieved through the generosity of our sponsors and the many donors including the mayor’s office. The restoration will be done in stages as funding becomes available,” said Söderlund.
In preparation for her new role the submarine had to be hoisted from the navy’s Simon’s Town dockyard to a nearby publicly accessible area within the naval base, at Cole Point. The heavy lifting work was carried out by Vanguard, which recently righted the huge Europa sailing vessel after it toppled over inside a dry dock at the V&A Waterfront.
The relocation followed 18 months of preparatory work involving the laying of foundations for the submarine mounting and fitting of lifting frames on the hull.
“With the vessel secured on site and with electrical power connected, access doors and stairs will be installed and the interior prepared for visitors,” said the Naval Heritage Trust.
“Once the museum facilities have been completed and the submarine declared safe she will be opened for visitors before the end of the year.
“The final phase, the restoration of the exterior of the hull, will be carried out once further funding has been raised. SAS Assegaai will be the only preserved museum naval vessel in South Africa and the only submarine museum in Africa.”
SAS Assegaai was previously open to the public on a trial basis while still in the water, but subsequently closed due to issues around public access to the navy dockyard which is a national key point. In her new position she will accommodate far more visitors, with the aim of promoting technology and science among the youth.
