More than 600 men of the South African Native Labour Contingent drowned when the SS Mendi was sunk off the Isle of Wight in February 1917. They were remembered yesterday with the mooring at the V&A Waterfront of the SAS Mendi, the last of the four corvettes acquired as part of South Africa's multibillion-rand arms deal.

The SS Mendi collided with another vessel, the SS Darro, in thick fog. The men aboard the stricken vessel were bound for France, and participation in the Allied effort against Germany in World War 1.

Yesterday, the new vessel, a large, state-of-the-art warship - though not fitted with weapons yet - made a big impression at the Waterfront, its last port of call after Durban, East London and Port Elizabeth, before joining the fleet at the naval base in Simon's Town.

The 121m vessel, which can take up to 125 crew members, is fitted with an impressive array of the latest German technology. It is designed to carry a helicopter and is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Its 16 heat-sensitive missiles, still to be fitted, have a range of 7km.

The vessel also boasts plush offices, conference rooms, a fully furnished lounge, a trauma unit and surgery.

With acknowledgements to Sipokazi Maposa and the Cape Argus.