Durban – Sixteen young and ambitious Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) cadets have moved one step closer to realising their dreams to follow a career in the maritime industry.
With the support of Safmarine, they will spend five months at sea. The cadets who are all from disadvantaged backgrounds, have flown to Europe and the Far East to join Safmarine ships around the world in foreign ports such as Rotterdam and Hong Kong.
The intensive training programme will give the cadets practical training on becoming tug masters, harbour pilots and chief marine engineering officers.
Vish Govender, Maritime Training and Development Manager at TNPA’s School of Ports, said: “Gaining sea-time experience is an important part of the TNPA cadets’ training. Without the training berths provided by Safmarine, these youngsters would be unable to qualify in their chosen careers.”
The first pilot training programme was conducted at the School of Ports in 2006 with resounding success. With a comprehensive and structured program in place, the success rate more than doubled from those of the Rotterdam programs and to date, the School of Ports have managed to retain this success rate.
TNPA School of Ports cadet, Lwandiso Ntloko, whose ultimate goal is to be a harbour master, is one of the three female cadets who left for Rotterdam on 19 November 2011.
“Being chosen for this programme makes me feel very proud of what I have achieved so far. I am humbled that my contribution was observed and I was blessed with this opportunity to grow within my chosen career path.
“I am looking forward to going to Rotterdam to be able to practise what we have been studying theoretically. I hope to finish the programme knowing how to handle vessels in port,” she said proudly.
Siphamandla Mpanza, one of three male cadets in Rotterdam, aspires to be the youngest black man as a pilot in the maritime industry.
“I’m looking forward to going to Rotterdam for practical exercises. I imagine myself steering that ship and already it’s a wonderful feeling. I hope to achieve a lot when it comes to the practical navigation side of things, and to gaining confidence as well,” he smiled.
Andy Maclennan, Managing Director of SAMTRA, which manages the cadet programme on behalf of TNPA, says it is encouraging to see the increase in the number of young women interested in working as harbour pilots and tug masters.
According to Fred Jacobs South African Maritime Academy (SAMTRA) Chairman and Safmarine South Africa Public Affairs Executive, investment in maritime training is important when one considers the high unemployment rate and the global shortage of skilled maritime officers.
“Opportunities such as the cadet training programme give young South Africans, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, the opportunity to improve their lives by working internationally and earning US dollar-based salaries,” he said.
