By Nangamso Mabindla
18 October 2004

EAST London said farewell to a piece of naval history as the SAS Port Rex's flag was lowered and its crew - a navy reserve unit - was decommissioned this weekend.

Buffalo City mayor Sindisile Maclean hosted a cocktail function at the Cambridge Town Hall on Friday, 15 October in honour of the unit, which was established in 1921, and to show the city's appreciation for the role played by Port Rex's crew.

SAS Port Rex was one of seven reserve units around the country - the others being in Cape Town, Simon's Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria.

Maclean said the decommissioning of the unit felt like the end of an era. "One can understand such feelings when one is dealing with an institution which has engraved its mark on our city and become an integral part of our non-racial progressive society," he said.

The reserve, he added, had contributed in times of need and times of joy, providing support to the local port authorities and the National Sea Rescue Institute.

But SAS Port Rex's biggest role was when the crew was asked to assist in one of the province's largest rescue missions - the sinking of the Oceanos off the Wild Coast in 1991.

"As a city we are sad about this decommissioning but we take heart from the fact that our city is not alone in this sadness," Maclean added.

Despite the unit's withdrawal from service, Maclean hoped the former reservists would be available in times of staff shortages or for large scale tasks.

Admiral Ernst Penzon thanked East London for being wonderful hosts to the navy. "We appreciate the support given to us by the locals. It's really been a proud association. We will continue to have the city's volunteers close to our hearts," Penzon said.