Following the retirement of SAS Assegaai in 2003, Naval enthusiasts are appealing for sponsorship through the Naval Heritage Trust (NHT) to get her restored as a science and museum exhibit.
The SAS Assegaai served in the SA Navy from 1970 to 2003.
The Assegaai submarine was a diesel-electric attack submarine that served in the South African Navy from 1970 to 2003. It was one of three Daphné class submarines acquired from France.
On the 23rd of November 2003, the SAS Assegaai (ex-Johanna van der Merwe), was paid off for the last time and destined for disposal, along with her two sisters. With the scrapping of our first submarine, SAS Spear (ex-Maria van Riebeeck), that same year, Naval enthusiasts, both serving and retired, felt that she should be preserved as a museum vessel and thus campaigned for her retention.
As a result of their efforts, in 2005 the Naval Board approved her retention as the Navy’s first museum vessel and an annex of the Naval Museum under the conditions that it be done at no direct costs to the SA National Defence Force and carried out by volunteers who would raise funds to place it ashore where it could be used as an educational tool to promote the sciences amongst the youth as well as a museum exhibit.
An Assegaai Preservation Team consisting of volunteers under the auspices of the Naval Heritage Trust (NHT) was formed for this purpose. The Naval Heritage Trust is a registered Public Benefit Organization established in July 1994 with the primary objective being to generate an awareness of the South African Navy and to educate the South African public about naval heritage, culture and traditions.
Planning and fundraising to move the vessel ashore at the Naval Museum commenced and in the interim, the Navy Headquarters gave authority to the team of volunteers to temporarily open Assegaai as a floating museum in the East Dockyard to stimulate fundraising and promote public interest. Initially only open during the annual Naval Festival, in late 2010 she was placed alongside a pontoon on the outer wall of the Dockyard and made accessible to visitors by boat, and later via a special bus service.
The 1st of March 2011, saw the submarine museum formally opened by Chief of the Navy, VAdm Mudimu and it soon established itself as a museum of technology and an educational attraction for numerous schools, both local and from as far as Limpopo, the Eastern Cape, Namibia and the Northern Cape. No other single exhibit contains a greater variety of practical applications of technologies than a submarine – ranging from basic mechanical and electrical systems to hydrodynamics, optics, sonars and many others.
However, in 2015 it became apparent that Assegaai needed hull maintenance and the boat was closed to visitors on the 2nd of August 2015, for docking, repainting and re-plating of the outer hull. The Navy, then decided that they would take back the boat and carry out the necessary preservation.
By the time it was closed after four and a half years, the submarine had received over 56 000 visitors from 110 countries.
There are some 124 preserved naval submarines in the world of which only six are in the southern hemisphere, Assegaai having been the only one in Africa. Sadly, the Navy’s declining budget meant that no further preservation could take place and, in 2020, the Naval Heritage Trust (NHT) approached the Navy with a request to again assume responsibility for her preservation on behalf of the Naval Museum and prevent her disposal and scrapping.
A proposal on the establishment of a permanent site and a plan for the restoration and relocation of the submarine adjacent to public access as well as a proposed agreement on the management of this new museum annex was submitted to the Navy. On 11 May 2022 the Chief of the Navy formally signed the agreement for the NHT to again assume full responsibility for the restoration, preservation, management and operation of SAS Assegaai and its adjacent facilities at Cole Point on behalf of the SA Naval Museum.
In order to achieve this, the NHT needs to raise approximately R5-million (£250 000/$300 000) for the restoration of the outer hull and preparations for mounting ashore, the laying of foundations for the permanent mounting ashore and the physical move of the 650-ton boat to its new position. Also included is the refurbishment of existing facilities including toilets, classroom, and display rooms as well as direct but secure access for visitors. A transport frame, welded to the Hull has already been fitted and just requires painting. This was achieved by Damen boilermakers and welders, supported by the Armscor Naval Dockyard in March 2023.
It is planned to establish the museum in stages as follows:
- The occupation of the museum site and laying of the foundation for mounting the boat is the first priority and to be completed in 2022. The estimated cost will be approximately R500 000 (£25 000/$30 000). At the same time, the submarine will be prepared for moving, which will cost approximately R270 000 (£13 500/$15 500)
- Transferring the boat to its permanent site. Three specialist companies have been consulted for this task and it is estimated to cost between R1-million (£50 000/$30 000) and R1.2-million (£60 000/$72 000).
- Once on site, restoration of the outer hull, tanks and casing as well as the cutting of an access opening and connection of service will commence. This work is expected to cost approximately R3M. At the same time the museum buildings will be developed with visitor facilities, reception, and briefing area as well as display and recreation spaces created within the existing two building complex which will require some minor renovations not expected to exceed R120 000 (£6 000/$7 200).
The NHT is registered with the Department of Social Development as a Non-Profit Organisation – Registration No 079-490 NPO. It has already raised approximately R600 000, which covers most design and planning costs but the remaining funding needs to be sourced from public sponsorship (money or kind) and donations. Where possible, commercial sponsorship for specific tasks will facilitate public acknowledgement. Whilst the submarine remains a naval exhibit on naval property, the management, maintenance and operation of her will fall under the Naval Heritage Trust.
Sponsorship can take many forms. Supporting companies or organisations would be able to contribute by means of material (steel plating, paint), services (where assistance can be provided directly in terms of the renovation and move of the submarine), and financial by means of bolstering the Assegaai Fund.
- The benefits to the supporting company or organisation can be wide ranging with the Naval Heritage Trust open to any proposals. This would include:
- Signage displayed at the entrance to the display area and the entrance to the actual submarine.
- The use of the submarine for public relations and advertisement campaigns.
- The use of the submarine for company/organisation visits and functions.
As it is a purely volunteer organisation, the professional management and daily running of the museum annex will be carried out by the Simon’s Town Amenities Development Company (STADCO), which will provide a museum manager and any additional services not available from the NHT or Naval Museum. STADCO is a registered Section 21 non-profit company (NPC) formed by local community organisations in 2003 to manage local public amenities on behalf of the municipality and currently runs the town jetty and Jubilee Square. Details on STADCO are attached and a copy of the registration (2003/005546/08 dated 2003-02-20) can be provided on request.
Funding for the operating and through-life costs of the museum will be sourced from visitor donations, merchandising, functions aboard and possible filming rights. All income will be ring-fenced and controlled by a Submarine Museum Management Board appointed by the SA Navy and NHT.
Once open, the Submarine Museum, will operate daily, 363 days a year as in the past and there is little doubt that she will be of major benefit to the nation as a whole through her promotion of science and technology amongst the youth as well as promoting South African industry through the example of their innovative systems aboard.
At the same time, she will promote the image of the SA Navy as well as be a major tourist attraction throughout the year, including school groups.
navalheritagetrust.co.za/sas-assegaai
