The South African Navy celebrated a notable achievement on 23 May 2022, when its Hecla class hydrographic survey vessel, SAS Protea, marked 50 years in service, becoming the first South African naval vessel to reach this milestone, ahead of the Bar class boom defence vessel SAS Somerset and the Ton class minesweeper SAS East London, which each accumulated 43 years of service. But, compared to other ships of the Navy, Protea has had a particularly active period of uninterrupted service.
She is the latest in a long line of hydrographic survey vessels to have seen service with the South African Hydrographic Office. Since 1922 the Office has operated no fewer than five such vessels, as it has played a leading role in the international field of hydrography for many years. One of the SA Navy’s former hydrographers, Captain Abri Kampfer, was awarded the international Alexander Dalrymple Prize in 2009 and currently serves as director of the International Hydrographic Organization in Monaco.
