Two major events in 2022 affirmed the incredible growth of the South African and Nigerian shipbuilding industry, and heralds a new era for both the local shipbuilding industry and the Nigerian and South African Navy.
History was made in May 2022, when the South African Navy commisoned its first locally built ship, christened SAS King Sekhukhune I. The first of three locally built inshore patrol ships.
This is the first time since 1986 that a South African navy warship was built in SA.
The vessels forms part of a drive by the South African Navy to create a capability to build its own ships instead of importing ships and parts.
Built at Damen shipyards in Cape Town, it took 3 years to build. Its keel was laid in 2019 and delivered to the South African navy in 2022.
On 17 January 2022, the Nigerian navy commissioned its 3rd locally built ship, christened NNS Oji. It is the 3rd of three locally built inshore patrol craft.
Designed at the Naval Dockyard Limited, Lagos, it took four years to build this latest iteration of the SDB (Seward Defence Boat) class of inshore patrol vessels.
The SDB class vessels are designed to greatly improve the navy’s operations in protecting Nigeria's waterways against criminal activities. Two more vessels -SDB IV and SDB V are currently under construction.
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