On 18 May 2026, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) joined the maritime community in marking International Day for Women in Maritime.

We marked the day with a heartwarming video featuring women from all walks in our entity, including our Chief Executive Officer, Captain Dennis Mqadi and Executive for Corporate Affairs and International Relations Dr Thuli Mbuli (MBA) PhD who joined in to give their message of support.

This year’s theme “From Policy to Practice: Advancing Gender Equality for Maritime Excellence” puts a spotlight on the various roles that in the maritime sector play and in the next few days we will share short stories from the various women who make SAMSA’s ship sail.

We are focusing on the fact that “Women can be anything they want to be” and how advancing gender equality creates space for women to thrive in the sector.

Join us on this journey as we put a spotlight on the SAMSA women and the impact they make at policy level, in the office space or from working aboard at sea!

Please wattch the video below featuring SAMSA women and celebrating the different roles that women play in the sector

The workshop held at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre, aimed to set a clear path toward faster, more efficient, and lower-cost maritime trade across the Eastern and Southern Africa region.

The implementation of electronic data exchange systems and Maritime Single Window (MSW) platforms plays a crucial role in streamlining processes, reducing administrative burdens, and enhancing port operational efficiency. Despite the progress made under the FAL Convention, challenges persist in the widespread adoption and effective utilization of these tools, including gaps in understanding the processes and lack of technical capacity.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) was represented by Captain Pretty Mbakaza, Head of SAMSA’s Sea Watch and Response Unit CSWR (MRCC).

South Africa is proud to have been part of this progressive workshop that further highlighted how coordinated regional action is key to unlocking the full benefits of digital maritime systems.

In addition to the workshop, Captain Mbakaza also paid a courtesy visit to the MRCC in Dar es Salaam, as one of South Africa’s counterpart on Search and Rescue (SAR) and maritime domain awareness matters in the Indian Ocean region.