Anyone with a laptop on board the new SAS Amatola can steer this latest addition to the South African Navy fleet, William McIntosh reported from on board.

"One can start the engines, direct the ship, turn her, speed her up - all from a laptop," McIntosh reported from the vessel in False Bay on Wednesday morning.

McIntosh was one of the journalists invited for a spin on the new German-built corvette.

"The ship has two diesel engines, two propellers, two drive shafts and a gas turbine engine," he reported from one of the fastest ships in the world. The normal cruising speed is 18 knots - that is, with just one engine and two props running.

"We are now going to see how fast she can go," said McIntosh. The top speed of the vessel is 34 knots, with all engines going. "We are going to throw a few curves, and do some emergency braking."

This saw the corvette shudder to a halt in an impressive three-and-a-half boat lengths, sending sheets of water into the air.

Despite the high speed, the mighty engines run completely silently, McIntosh marvelled. "There is no vibration, and hardly a whisper. Only when one stands right at the back can one hear the water rushing."

McIntosh reported that the ship consists of separate compartments. The engines are, for instance, each in their own compartment. "Even if half the ship is lost, she would still keep going." The corvette is the first vessel with such an advanced driving mechanism.

To escape radar detection, the ship is built in an X-format, similar to the Stealth warplane. And even though the corvette is 10 times larger than a strike craft, her radar footprint is 16 times smaller. While on her way to SA, special screens had to be erected to allow other ships to "see" her.

She also doesn't have an overhead funnel. As no hot smoke is emitted into the air, the ship doesn't have an infrared signal. The exhaust fumes are emitted at the back of the ship.

Despite the sea being quite choppy, the ship hardly rolled, McIntosh said.

With acknowledgements to Tisha Steyn and The Natal Witness.