The South African Navy's first-of-class corvette, SAS Amatola, has begun its final sea acceptance trials, the British news website Defence Systems Daily reported on Tuesday.

Operating from Cuxhaven, the Amatola was expected to carry out detailed acceptance tests of the nautical and electronic systems in international waters off Skagen, Denmark. The trials were scheduled for completion by August 24.

Upon completion of any necessary final work, the corvette would be handed over to the South African Navy on September 25 by its builders. The ship would then sail for Simon's Town naval base under the command of a South African Navy crew.

At Simon's Town, the Amatola would be equipped with weapons and related electronic systems.

The ship was to be commissioned in 2004.

The Amatola is a Meko A-200 stealth ship developed by the Blohm + Voss shipyard.

The corvette, for safety reasons, has been provided with additional radar reflectors for use during its sea trials.

Because of its stealth design and consequent small radar signature, the corvette disappeared from radar several times during the first sea trials some time ago. The Amatola is the first of four new corvettes for the South African Navy.

The building programme is headed by the European South African Corvette Consortium (ESACC).

The German Frigate Consortium is a member of ESACC and has been entrusted with the construction of the corvettes with Blohm + Voss being the lead yard for the complete building programme. The other ships are named Isandlwana, Spioenkop and Mendi.

With acknowledgements to Sapa and the Mail & Guardian.