Online auction will seal the fate of SA Agulhas

SAG fate under the hammer today

SOUTH AFRICA: Today’s court ordered public auction of the SA Agulhas will seal the fate of the country’s first ice breaker which was sold to a private entity almost exactly two years ago with aspirations to continue the vessel’s legacy as a training ship and extend her lifespan by up to 15 years.

Despite undergoing a R100 million refurbishment during 2024, based on a survey undertaken in December, is likely to be purchased for its scrap value despite these grand aspirations as part of a heralded sale that was concluded via a tender process.

“We are building something completely new and extending the life of the SA Agulhas at the same time,” Captain Stefan Bülow of J*S Maritime Time Partners said as he described his long-term plans for the vessel at the time of the widely publicised purchase.

After an extensive refurbishment programme that was undertaken in Cape Town and reported to have cost R100 million, Bülow was confident that the vessel’s life could be extended by 10 to 15 years. One must question this outlook based on the conclusions of an inspection undertaken by Captain Gary Walsh in December last year.

“The vessel is showing her age and is possibly only good for scrap value due to very limited maintenance being done over the past two years. Statutory certification has expired and a vast amount of work shall be required to get the vessel back in Class as numerous CSM items are due / overdue,” he concludes in his report on the status of the vessel which was made available to bidders.

The report makes for sober reading and includes photographs detailing the state of the vessel’s shortcomings. Walsh notes that the presence of redundant wiring, corroded piping and redundant systems are all “classic” findings for a vessel of this age.

According to the inspection, significant further work would need to be undertaken to return the vessel to a suitable condition. In addition, some documents requested during the inspection were not available or were “hidden from the surveyor”.

“Most of the vessels statutory certificates issued by Class were interim certificates which have now expired. As far as the undersigned surveyor is concerned, although the vessel has a valid Class certificate, I believe this has been withdrawn,” he writes in the report.

Various concerns around the state of the decks, fittings, vents, pipelines, engine control room, boilers, pumps, freshwater generator, oil water separator, purifier and motors were identified. Considerable interventions were highlighted to address issues relating to the lifting gear, ballast water tanks and pumps, ballast treatment plants, main engine, auxiliary engine, heat exchangers, sewage plant, thrusters as well as accommodation.

The court order issued against the vessel, the Agulhas Shipping FZCO and J*S Maritime Partners at the beginning of December last year, outlined a course of action to sell the vessel including its equipment, furniture, stores, bunkers and lubricating by public auction – giving the respondents a week to appeal the court’s decision.

Well-known to the maritime industry, Ariella Kuper of Solution Strategists was appointed by the court to facilitate and oversee the auction. Once sold, the order provides for the lifting of the arrest and ability to leave the Port of Durban where she is currently being held.

Prospective bidders were required to pay a registration deposit of US$50,000 and accept the risk of any fluctuations in the currency for their own account.

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