Paramount Maritime, a Paramount Group company, has successfully launched the first of three next-generation Survey Motor Boats (SMBs) to the South African Navy. The boats will be used the South African Navy Hydrographic Office (SANHO).

SANHO will also receive a Hydrographic Survey Vessel and a Sea Boat as well as a third, fully operational inshore Survey Motor Boat, to remain ashore and in reserve.

Veecraft Marine, a subsidiary of Paramount Maritime, had been tasked with the design and manufacture of the Survey Motor Boats, all of which having taken place within South Africa.

The vessel’s survey equipment includes Multi-Beam and Single-Beam echo-sounders and Side-Scan Sonar and a Seabed Sampler to recover sample material from the sea-floor and underlying sub-strata for detailed analytical and testing purposes. The vessel capabilities allow for nearshore shallow water surveys in depths of up to 300m.

Training has additionally been provided for the Survey Motor Boat’s multifaceted survey systems.