Exercise Ibsamar set for October

07 March 2014 by Kim Helfrich - defenceWeb

The fourth iteration of Exercise Ibsamar is set to start in October off South Africa’s southern and western coastlines.

Ships from the Brazilian and Indian navies will steam into Simon’s Town to join up with elements of the SA Navy ahead of the three nation exercise that is set to end in mid-November.

“The main planning conference for Ibsamar was held in Simon’s Town last month with details discussed and agreed,” Fleet media liaison officer Commander Adrian Dutton said, adding the exact number of foreign vessels, as well as South African ones, that will take part in the exercise could not be divulged “at this stage”.

“It is envisaged both the Brazilian and Indian contingents will berth at Cape Town’s V&A Waterfront after the exercise for crew rest and relaxation and interaction with the people of Cape Town,” he said.

There are currently no details available of the Navy’s other regular exercises with foreign navies – Atlasur, with the Argentinean, Uruguayan and Brazilian navies - but Dutton said the biannual Good Hope exercise with the German Navy has been scheduled for March next year. This will be the fifth time German naval vessels have been in South African waters for a joint exercise with the maritime arm of the SA National Defence Force (SANDF).

Unofficial sources indicate two of the Navy’s four Valour Class frigates - SAS Isandlwana and SAS Spioenkop – are currently operational. Two of the three Heroine class Type 209 submarines – SAS Charlotte Maxeke and SAS Queen Modjadji -  are operational.