REFLECTIONS ON THE YEAR – AND SOME POSITIVE OBSERVATIONS

REFLECTIONS on the fading 2025 are inevitable.

- BRIAN INGPEN

THE 8 500-ton-ship German salvage tug Seefalke arrived in Cape Town towards the end of November 1972 to relieve the Safmarine tug TH Watermeyer which had been on station for about a year. Before long, Seefalke put to sea to tow the Romelia (ex-Transvaal) that had suffered machinery breakdown near Cape Columbine on the west coast. On arrival in Table Bay, Seefalke was relieved by the TH Watermeyer and Danie Hugo. Most surprisingly, few Capetonians seem to remember the Cape, a fact that probably can be attributed to the lack of machinery and more through training of engine room staff. WHEN about 30 nautical miles south-east of East London on 26 June 1973, the tanker Phillipes suffered a major explosion that completely severed the after section of the ship. Of the 34-man crew, all but one were killed in the explosion. While the stem section eventually sank, the forward section remained afloat, but with a very uneven trim and was towed to Durban where it was declared a constructive total loss. STENA Connects passing Green Point on Monday on her maiden voyage from China to Britain. The 147-metre vessel is equipped with two 28m Norsepower rotor sails, expected to deliver up to 25 percent fuel savings. She will operate on the North Sea between Belfast and Birkenhead. The vessel has been characterised by great urgency among greener and sustainable fuels for marine propulsion.

(BRIAN INGPEN GEORGE YOUNG COLLECTION ANDREW NEWELL)

A policeman's rant exposed new criminals, including some among the police; an admiral broadsided the inept minister presiding over the collapse of the defence force, and presidential aspirant Fikile Fix-nil sees his party striking iceberg after iceberg.