Cape Town - Vessels of the Russian and Chinese navies arrived at the V&A Waterfront on Sunday to participate in the South African Navy's first-ever multinational maritime exercise and foster a better relationship between the countries.
The five-day maritime exercise will allow the foreign navies and the South African Navy to engage in training related to security measures while at sea.
Commander Greyling van Den Berg, spokesperson for the South African Navy, said: “This exercise will provide us with the opportunity to witness how the navies from other countries practice their own protocols.”
Berg said that there was a particular way in which the ships performed the exercise. It was a very dangerous environment at sea, and due to the large size of these ships, the other ships needed to be trusted in terms of safety measures.
Vessels of the Russian and Chinese navies arrived at the V&A Waterfront on Monday to participate in the South African Navy's first-ever multinational maritime exercise and foster a better relationship between the countries. Video: Ian Landsberg/African News Agency
Fostering the security of the navy ships had motivated the theme this year, known as the “promotion of state navigation and maritime security”.
Navy fleet flag officer Bravo Mhlana said: “There is often an issue of language out at sea as we struggle to communicate with each other. However, the maritime language is common and we have these few days to better the understanding between the foreign navy crews.”
The SAS Amatola and the SAS Protea will be docking at the east of the Cape Town harbour. The Russian cruiser, known as Marshall Ustinov, and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy frigate known as Wei Fang will also dock Jetty 2.
Today there will be a soccer match between the navies at Green Point Cricket Club and the vessels will depart on Thursday.
Chinese captain Fan Guanqing said: “We hope that the exercises will allow China, Russia and South Africa to work together and make an improvement through co-operation and exchanges.
“This exercise is historical and the first of its kind for these three countries.”
Guanqing said that the maritime exercise should help maintain world peace and stability. It would also be the starting point of a relationship between the countries.
The Russian warship Marshall Ustinov arrives in Table Bay for a multinational maritime exercise between China, Russia and South Africa which takes place on 25-30 November. Picture: Ian Landsberg/African News Agency (ANA).
The Russian warship Marshall Ustinov arrive in Table Bay for a multinational maritime exercise between China, Russia and South Africa which takes place on 25-30 November. Picture: Ian Landsberg/African News Agency (ANA).
Russian Cruiser MARSHALL USTINOV (in pic) as it enters Victoria and Alfred Waterfront Jetty 2. The South African Navy will host China and Russia for the multinational maritime exercise in and off Cape Town shores. Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
The South African Navy will host China and Russia for the multinational maritime exercise in and off Cape Town shores. Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
The South African Navy has welcomed representatives from the Russian and Chinese navies for the South African Multinational Maritime Exercise. Picture: Courtney African News Agency (ANA)
The navy vessels were open to the public on Sunday. Picture Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
The public were able to go onboard to view the MARSHALL USTINOV (in pic) up close. Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
These are anti aircraft and land objects guns. Shooting 50 rounds a minute with a distance of 20km. Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
Picture: Courtney Africa/African News Agency(ANA)
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