SAMSA Centre for the Seafarer Launched in Durban

In 2008, 18 December the vessel Kingfisher capsized and 14 fishermen died

In June 2009 vessel Mendi capsized in East London, killing fishermen on board

In June 2010 vessel mv Hector was abandoned by its owner, the crew was stranded on board, one crew member with a broken arm. There was a note, “We have not been paid for three months, I am Ghanaian crew, I have broken arm, I want to go home, please help”. It turns out the vessel had broken down every single day for 30 days from its trip from East Africa to the Middle East. The crew were left abandoned by the vessel’s owners.

In June 2010 in Croatian waters on board a UK-registered vessel a South African seafarer perished.

South Africa trades all over the world on vessels belonging to many nationalities. At every point in time South Africa needs to make sure that it looks after the interests of its people wherever they are. The International Maritime Organisation in terms of the Standards for Training and Certification of Watchkeepers required countries to, at all times, promote the security and welfare of seafarers. In response to this legislation the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has set up this institution, the Centre for Seafarers and Fishing.

The virtual centre will be located in Port Elizabeth and will be responsible for creating awareness about the maritime industry, giving support to seafarers, mobilising funding for education in the sector, keeping seafarers connected with their lives and families back in the country while they are at sea.

Other objectives of the centre will be to facilitate job creation, training and development and to ensure quality assurance within the maritime industry.

An estimated 90% of world trade goes sea facilitated by 1.5 million sea farers. However in the South African context where 98% of the trade is by sea there are only 1 500 South Africans farers in the country’s ports. The disparity between the number of unemployed South African’s and the low numbers of seafarers could be curbed if more people were encouraged to take up opportunities in the maritime industry

SAMSA CEO Tsietsi Mokhele said, the disparity between the number of unemployed South African’s and the low numbers of seafarers could be curbed if more people were encouraged to take up opportunities in the maritime industry.

“The centre has a three year plan to produce between 1000 and 1600 new seafarers each year. We are currently working on putting the necessary resources such as lecturers and the right technology in place to ensure that we meet this highly practicable target”, he said.

Mokhele added that the objective is to create a system aimed at ensuring that seafarers are able to create sustainable lives for themselves and their families as well as to contribute effectively to the country’s growing economy.

Through the centre SAMSA will be investing considerable amounts of resources to position maritime studies amongst school pupils and university students, the highlight being the introduction of maritime studies at high school level in line with school syllabuses.

Mokhele cited some of the challenges faced by the maritime industry in getting more recruits were due to a lack of capacity at universities and a general lack of knowledge about the industry.

In addition the Department of Tourism, SAMSA have identified 1100 school children that will go on a cruise ship later this year. The children have been earmarked to take up careers in seafaring. 800 of the pupils have been identified to work as chefs on cruise ships and the 300 as hospitality staff on ships.

The centre will be launched at 19h00 at the Durban International Convention Centre on Saturday 16th October at a ceremony presided by National Minister Sbu Ndebele. All members of the media are invited.

Editors Note:
Accountable to the Minister of Transport, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) was established on 1 April 1998 in terms of the South African Maritime Safety Authority Act 5 of 1998.

SAMSA is governed by a Board made up of the CEO and six non-executive members, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, as appointed by the Minister.

The organisation’s objective is to lead and champion South Africa’s maritime interests as custodians and stewards of maritime policy, vigorous promoters of the maritime sector and giving full and complete effect to their obligations for the benefit of all stakeholders.

For more information:
Prudence Mbatha
SAMSA Media Relations
Cell: 0760624791
pmbatha@samsa.org.za