The Navy's latest patrol corvette, the SAS Mendi, which visits Durban this week on an operational training cruise, will be open to the public on Saturday and Sunday.
A spokesperson for the Navy, Captain Rusty Higgs, told The Mercury the visit would give people in Durban their first opportunity to see the ship, which introduces some of the latest stealth and propulsion technology.
SAS Mendi arrives in Durban between 8am and 9am on Thursday, and will berth at the - Shed passenger terminal on the T-Jetty.
The 121m long ship, although classified as a patrol corvette, is essentially a full frigate and, with sister ships SAS Amatola, SAS Isandlwana and SAS Spioenkop, replaces three Type 12 frigates that were withdrawn from service many years ago.
The opening times will be announced on Monday.
Higgs said the National Ports Authority had given permission for the ship to use the passenger terminal despite restrictions on access under the International Ships and Ports Security regulations.
Meanwhile, readers can take a virtual tour of a Valour class ship on the official navy website at www.navy.mil.za.
Mendi will also visit Port Elizabeth and East London but will not call at Richards Bay on this trip. The other three frigates are now having their arms suites fitted at Simon's Town, but Mendi, which arrived a month ago from the builders in Germany, has not yet been handed to the contractors and so is available for a flag-showing exercise.
SAS Mendi was named in honour of the ship of the same name that sank in 1917 with nearly 1 000 black South African servicemen on board, most of whom perished bravely, singing as the ship sank.