The South African Navy’s newest Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessel (MMIPV), the SAS Adam Kok III, has returned from its second Operation Corona maritime patrol during which it intercepted a suspected drug-smuggling vessel and returned rescued sailors to South Africa, amongst others.
SAS Adam Kok III was named and blessed on 25 April 2025 and formally commissioned into service on 15 October. Just over a month later, the vessel exited Simon’s Town for her first operational deployment as per the standing SA National Defence Force (SANDF) border protection tasking Operation Corona. During that deployment, the vessel logged 4 500 nautical miles over 504 hours at sea, and interrogated 14 vessels and apprehended a number of law-breakers.
SAS Adam Kok III carried out its second Operation Corona maritime patrol in mid-January to mid-February this year as part of the South African National Defence Force’s continuing commitment to safeguard maritime sovereignty, protect economic resources and support coastal communities, the SA Navy said.
During the patrol, the vessel conducted sustained surveillance and interdiction operations within South Africa’s territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Working in close cooperation with other government departments and maritime law-enforcement agencies, the ship’s company identified and monitored vessels at sea, enforced regulations within marine protected areas, supported fisheries compliance and anti-trafficking initiatives, and provided maritime domain awareness reports to the relevant authorities.
“Acting on received intelligence, SAS Adam Kok III tracked and interdicted a vessel of interest; an Ecuadorian-registered fishing vessel suspected of involvement in narcotics trafficking. Available intelligence further indicated that the same vessel had previously been interdicted in 2025 off the Ecuadorian coast near the Galápagos Islands, where an estimated 1.2 tonnes of cocaine was reportedly seized,” the SA Navy said.
“In accordance with established operational procedures and applicable legal frameworks, the vessel was intercepted, secured and escorted for further action. It was subsequently handed over to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities for investigation and due process.”
The SA Navy said the SAS Adam Kok III worked with policing, environmental management, and border-control authorities to investigate dozens of vessels during its patrol, resulting in several vessels being issued fines for non-compliance.
Another significant success during the patrol was the safe return of three South African sailors, winners of the 2025 Cape2Rio yacht race, to shore after their yacht Angel Wings sank in the South Atlantic on 2 February. After being rescued by the merchant vessel Bryant following a distress call coordinated by maritime authorities, the sailors were transferred to SAS Adam Kok III off Cape Point on 11 February and brought safely to Naval Base Simon’s Town the following morning.
Photo: SANDF
The SA Navy said the latest Operation Corona maritime patrol reflects three priorities: protection of the maritime economy, support to civil authority, and maintenance of sovereignty. “Regular patrols assert jurisdiction and deter unlawful activity; at sea, presence itself becomes a strategic effect.”
“While frigates and submarines provide strategic deterrence, patrol vessels such as SAS Adam Kok III ensure persistent presence. In the prevailing fiscal and maintenance environment, these platforms enable the country to maintain an operational footprint at sea even when high-end combat assets are unavailable.”
The SA Navy’s sole operational frigate, the SAS Amatola, is currently on her way to China, having visited India for its International Fleet Review and Exercise MILAN. After China, she will visit Malaysia, Kenya and Tanzania before returning to Simon’s Town at the beginning of May.
SAS Adam Kok III’s sister ships are SAS King Sekhukhune I and SAS King Shaka Zulu. The multi-mission inshore patrol vessels are based on the Damen Stan Patrol 6211 design adapted to South African requirements. The 6211 indicates a hull length of 62 metres and a beam of 11 metres. Key features of the design include a Sea Axe hull form for superior seakeeping, reduced slamming, and better fuel economy, and modular mission spaces allowing adaptation for a range of roles, from patrol and interdiction to environmental protection and humanitarian assistance.
Although lightly armed compared to larger combatants, the MMIPVs are well-suited for constabulary duties. Their weaponry includes one 20 mm Rheinmetall Denel GI-2 automatic cannon (remotely operated on the bow), two 12.7 mm heavy machine guns (manually operated, typically mounted port and starboard amidships), and provision for small arms and boarding party equipment.
The MMIPVs have a maximum speed of 26 knots, a range of approximately 4 000 nautical miles at 12 knots, and endurance of up to 14 days at sea without resupply. Core crew complement is around 40 personnel, but the vessels can embark additional boarding teams or specialists.
The vessels are fitted with a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) launch and recovery system from a stern slipway, enabling rapid boarding operations at sea.
