On 18 March 2011 the new base at Marion Island was officially opened in a ceremony on the island.
The official opening took place on the evening of the 18th, commencing with the National Anthem. Following a welcome, a technical background talk was given by Fred Johnston, Cape Town Regional Manager of the National Department of Public Works (NDPW; which body built the base). Dr Monde Mayekiso, Deputy Director-General, Department of Environmental Affairs (at the time) then made an acceptance speech, after which the then Deputy Minister of Public Works, Ms Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu spoke. A plaque marking the official opening was then unveiled by the Deputy Minister.
Although the new base was officially opened , work on it was still required and so the ship left behind a 25-member NDPW construction team under the leadership of Heine Smith which stayed until the annual relief voyage a month later. (image above taken during construction)
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