Update: July 2024

SAS Assegaai: Home at Last

The SAS Assegaai, an iconic vessel in South African naval history, has finally been relocated to its permanent home. Rear Admiral (JG) Arne Soderland (Rtd) of the Naval Heritage Trust shared his joy, stating: 

“It is with the greatest pleasure that we can advise you that Assegaai is finally home and safe in her new museum precinct and visible to the public, albeit in need of some make-up.”

On July 20th, the submarine reached its final resting place at the Naval Museum in Simon’s Town, following a challenging 350-meter overland journey that included a tight 90-degree turn.

After 21 years of dedicated fundraising efforts, the dream of preserving the Assegaai has been realized. The move, initially set for July 6, 2024, encountered delays as the lifting structure required additional strengthening. Workers from Armscor Dockyard labored tirelessly to fabricate and fit the necessary beams and plates. The relocation began on the morning of July 19th. As Soderland explained, the complex maneuver required relocating containers, lambda walls, and even a lamp post. Despite intermittent rain, the submarine was correctly positioned by late Friday afternoon. The final hurdles were cleared with precision, with the sonar dome passing over foundations with minimal clearance.

On Saturday morning, the submarine was finally placed in its new location. The rest of the morning was spent lifting tar and breaking concrete to lower the submarine onto the foundations without damaging the sonar dome. By lunchtime, SAS Assegaai was secure in her final position.

Soderland credited the successful move to the “wholehearted and enthusiastic commitment of the SA Navy and Armscor Dockyard (Simon’s Town), supported by our sponsors, including Damen Shipyards Cape Town, the Mayor’s Office, and Vanguard Heavylift.”

Soderland emphasized the importance of preserving this unique vessel and its advanced technology: 

“Once our facilities are completed and volunteers trained and ready to show our visitors why we felt it so important to preserve this unique vessel and its home-grown advanced technology.”

The next steps involve preparing the shore-side facilities and ensuring the submarine is safe and accessible for visitors. The goal is to open to the public by the end of the year.

Read more about this on the SA Navy Museum Website:

Africa’s first submarine museum: The big move – SA Navy Museum