The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) recently hosted Navy Captain Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, a newly appointed Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), at its Cape Town offices for strategic discussions aimed at deepening maritime cooperation between the two countries.
Attended by Mr. Eugene Alec Rappetti, Executive Manager: Maritime Special Projects, and Captain Lee Michael De La Rue, Senior Examiner, from SAMSA, the meeting focused on exploring shared interests and enhancing collaboration across various maritime domains. SAMSA took the opportunity to provide an in-depth overview of its operations, including its mandate, organisational structure, and regulatory responsibilities within South Africa’s maritime sector.
Key topics covered during the engagement included South Africa’s ship regulatory framework, the organisation of SAMSA’s technical and inspection services, and processes related to the Cabotage Regime, Ship Registry, and Maritime Management.
The meeting culminated with both authorities identifying areas for potential collaboration. Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali expressed strong interest in partnering with SAMSA on matters such as revenue collection models, training and responsibilities of ship surveyors, and the training and certification of seafarers. Additionally, Capt. LM De La Rue shared insights into South Africa’s seafarer examination procedures, maritime training initiatives, and the accreditation of training institutions.
This meeting marks an important step in building closer ties between South Africa and Ghana in the maritime field. Both SAMSA and the GMA affirmed their commitment to promoting maritime safety, regulatory excellence, and skills development in their regions.