The Denmark flagged container ship, M/V Santa Cruz, from which a seafarer reportedly fell overboard on the Indian Ocean along the Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Saturday, 02 March 2024. (Pic: Supplied)
Pretoria: 03 March 2024
A sea search is underway in South African waters after a foreign seafarer reportedly disappeared from his vessel and believed to have fallen overboard on Saturday evening, while it was sailing on the Indian Ocean, along the Eastern Cape coastline; the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) announced on Sunday.
UPDATE ONE: Sunday, 03 March 2024 13h00 (LOCAL TIME)
No less than six (6) vessels have since joined the search of the seafarer on Sunday morning on the Indian Ocean along the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, while a warning has also been issued to other passing vessels to keep clear of the search area, reported SAMSA.
According to SAMSA on Sunday morning, the ‘man overboard’ (MOB) report by a Denmark flagged container ship, indicated that the incident occurred while the vessel was sailing at approximately 22 nautical miles east of Cape Recife, near Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape province.
“At 18h42 (local time) on Saturday, Telkom Maritime Radio informed the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) that M/V Santa Cruz reported that she had a man overboard.
“MRCC and Telkom Maritime Radio has since issued a call to vessels in the vicinity, the closest of which was a fishing vessel, FV Portunity, to assist with the search while more search and rescue resources are currently being mobilised, inclusive of the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI),” said SAMSA.
The search for the seafarer is still underway in an area on the Indian Ocean near Cape Recife, equivalent some seven (7) nautical miles, said SAMSA.
Development of South Africa Maritime Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap is now well on track following to an inaugural roundtable meeting of the sectors’ key role players, led by the Department of Transport (DoT) and the South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA); in Newlands, Cape Town, a week ago.
According to SAMSA, the Ministerial roundtable on development of a Maritime Sector Decarbonisation Roadmap is South Africa’s latest tacit response and contribution towards pursuit for fulfilment of its commitment to implementation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) 2023 Strategy on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships.
The revised IMO GHG Strategy, according to SAMSA, includes an enhanced common ambition to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050, a commitment to ensure an uptake of alternative zero and near-zero GHG fuels by 2030, as well as indicative checkpoints for 2030 and 2040.
Among other factors, ‘indicative checkpoints’ to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping include strife for reduction of total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008; and reduction of total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 70%, striving for 80%, by 2040, compared to 2008.
South Africa as a member of the IMO, said SAMSA, has a responsibility to progress the decisions of the organisation, with SAMSA expected to lead the implementation of such decisions, in line with objective 3 of the SAMSA Act.
There had now developed concerns, however, that “with the adoption of the revised 2023 IMO GHG Strategy, South Africa is still to develop its own roadmap on achieving the vision and targets aimed at decarbonising shipping.
“To advance the objectives of the GHG strategy and implementation of the developed IMO regulations aimed at decarbonising shipping, South Africa is still to finalise the legislative instrument to give effect to Annexure VI (Energy Efficiency of Ships) of the MARPOL Convention.”
Thus, according to SAMSA, the roundtable discussion on Friday last week was aimed at initiating a crafting phase of South Africa’s maritime approach and alignment to climate change programmes for purposes of GHG emissions reduction as contained in the IMO strategy.
Precisely, said SAMSA, the focus was on various issues, inclusive of an assessment of the country’s strategic approach to the subject relative to its geographic location, the country’s potential to produce clean fuels based on its renewable energy resources, the identification of possible green corridors, possible best approaches to leveraging economic opportunities such as clean fuels bunkering – over and above reduction of domestic emissions – and the potential impact of the entire exercise on the country’s economy inclusive of trade.
At last week’s roundtable meeting, in response to the Minister of Transport, Ms Sindisiwe Chikunga’s call for action, in addition to SAMSA senior management as well as the entity’s Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir, participation included representatives of the IMO (World Maritime University), South Africa ship owners and operators, the country’s ports authority (Transnet National Ports Authority), mining, environmental, energy, education and training, and related industry associated experts.
Also attending was about a dozen of about 30 officials from various South African public institutions and private maritime sector companies who’d earlier in the week, spent four (4) days in Cape Town on an executive professional development training course on Maritime Energy Management and Decarbonisation conducted by the World Maritime University.
The lineup of speakers and contributors to the discussion, included DoT Deputy Director, Maritime Branch; Mr Mthunzi Madiya (officially representing the Minister of Transport), SAMSA Board Chairperson Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA Acting CEO and COO, Mr Tau Morwe and Mr Sobantu Tilayi, respectively; Mr Mkhuthazi Teleki (Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment), Mr Tauqeer Ahmed (TNPA), Mr Andrew Millard (Vuka Marine), Mr Dan Ngakane (African Marine Solutions), Mr Sanda Zungu (Phalaborwa Mining Company), Dr Ita Mabaso (PetroSA), and Mr Johannes Bochdalofsky, co-founder and CEO of SeaH4.
At the conclusion of the discussion, SAMSA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi summed up the day as having been ‘most productive, with great progress.” For his full remarks, click on the video below.
SAMSA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi on the outcomes of the Ministerial maritime sector decarbonisation roadmap development roundtable held in Cape Town
For SAMSA ACEO, Mr Tau Morwe’s introductory remarks, click on the video below.
For the Minister, Ms Chikunga’s key opening address (presented by Mr Madiya), click on the video below.
For SAMSA Board chairperson, Mr Mahesh Fakir’s concluding remarks.
Additionally, for further insights into the four (4) day workshop held earlier in the week preceding the roundtable discussions, conducted by the World Maritime University, this blog chatted briefly, separately, with both SAMSA’s Acting Chief Human Capital Officer, Mr Tebogo Mojafi, and one of the course conductors, Professor Dr. Aykut I. Ölçer.
For their respective remarks, click on the videos below.
Scores of international delegates to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Joint Working Group on Search and Rescue (IMO/ICAO JWG) held in Cape Town wrapped up their meeting on Friday with several recommendations made for the consideration of the said parent organizations, to strengthen global collaboration on various initiatives to bolster search and rescue in especially maritime countries.
The ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Harmonization of Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue is described as a technical experts’ working group that meets every year, since its inception in 1963, to discuss technical SAR related matters and make proposals to the said IMO/ICAO through their relevant sub- committees.
This expert working group is made up of 16 members comprising eight (8) maritime SAR experts and an equal number of aeronautical SAR experts. Also attending, however, were several observers. Hosted by the Department of Transport’s SASAR Directorate, the gathering of the IMO/ICAO JWG in Cape Town, South Africa over five days – the 30th session for the group, and more significantly, the first of its kind on African soil – began on Monday and ended on Friday last week.
Attendees comprised representatives from about 24 countries, including Australia, Sweden, Angola, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States America, Russian Federation, Greece, Chile, Turkey, China, Canada, France, Ireland, Singapore, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Liberia, Argentina, Estonia, Finland, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, and Norway.
Also in the mix were some technical observers representing global institutions including the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), the COSPAS SARSAT, IRIDIUM, International Maritime Satellites Organization (IMSO) as well as Inmarsat.
Supporting the host – Department of Transport’s SASAR Directorate – were various domestic institutions involved in SAR, among them being the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Centre for Sea Watch & Response located Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC), the Aeronautical Rescue Coordinating Centre (ARCC), and Telkom Maritime Radio Services.
South Africa’s Cape Town based MRCC formally established as a Regional MRCC for the Southern Africa region in 2007, is one of five African regional MRCC’s rendering essential support to SAR operations and training, and described it as important that the 30th session of the IMO/ICAO JWG was being held locally for the first time.
It said the initiatives was timely in terms of its aims to support these RMRCC’s in executing their responsibilities in their respective SAR areas of responsibility.
According to the International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) of which South Africa is a member, among key issues for discussion at the Cape Town weeklong session included results of a survey conducted by the IMRF on behalf of the IMO, on African States’ Maritime Search and Rescue Status completed in March. The objectives of the survey were reportedly to:
help provide a clear picture of the status of the Global SAR Plan in Africa, State by State; clarify priorities and identify focus regions for future IMO Technical Cooperation work on developing SAR capability.
provide a database on which future SAR development work can be based; improve ratification of the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR Convention); and
improve input to IMO’s Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) Global SAR Plan module.
Also coming under focus would be various decisions recently undertaken on a variety of issues including conventions, plans, manuals and other documents affecting SAR, SAR operational principles, procedures and techniques, as well as SAR system administration, organization and implementation methods.
On Tuesday evening, 31 October 2023, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre(MRCC) located at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Centre for Sea Watch & Response (CSW&R) finally received the prestigious Seamanship Award 2022 bestowed upon it by the London based Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) early this year.
The award, whose handover was delayed by six (6) months due to logistics related matters, was bestowed upon the MRCC by the OCC in recognition and acknowledgement of its own contribution to the dramatic yet successful rescue of a Finnish sailor, Mr Tapio Lehtinen, who’s race yacht developed problems and had to be abandoned some 500 nautical miles south east of Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth), South Africa; while participating in the 2022 instalment of the Golden Globe Race.
The solo sailing Mr Tapio Lehtinen, whose race yacht, the Gaia 36 ASTERIA eventually sank during the ordeal, was successfully rescued by another race participant, and a South African from Gqeberha, Ms Kirsten Neuschäfer, prior to his being transferred to a more a stable vessel, a bulk carrier vessel known as the DARYA GAYATRI, captained by Mr Naveen Kumar Mehrotra.
Survival and rescue story as personally narrated by Finish global yacht racer, 66 years old Mr Tapio Lehtinen at the OSASA/OCC awards evening in Cape Town.
The MRCC, according to the OCC, played a most critical role in the successful rescue of Mr Lehtinen, even as having collaborated closely with other role players. In receiving the award last Tuesday, at a function held at the Royal Cape Yacht Club’s Regatta Centre, located at the port of Cape Town a few miles east of the city, the MRCC joined Ms Neuschäfer and others, some of who had been presented with the honours at this year’s OCC annual dinner held Poole in the United Kingdom on 15 April 2023.
On hand to receive the MRCC award were the unit’s Acting Chief, Mr Almar Schutte and Duty Controller, Mr Donald Ratshibvumo, accompanied by SAMSA’s Chief Operations Officer (COO), Mr Sobantu Tilayi. All three shared a few remarks of gratitude to the OCC, the latter which presented the award to the unit Tuesday evening jointly with the Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA).
They shared a common view that; the MRCC and SAMSA warmly welcomes the recognition and acknowledgement of its work both locally and domestically, also with great appreciation of the contribution and cooperation shown by other key roleplayers, such as Telkom Radio .
However, according to them, it is all really in a day’s work for the MRCC, with absolutely no anticipation nor expectations of awards beyond realisation of the goal of ensuring the safety of life and property at seas.
For their respective remarks, please click on the video links below.
Mr Schutte, in remarks prior to receipt of the award
Mr Ratshibvumo and Mr Tilayi on receipt of the award
For earlier remarks by the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response (CSW&R), Capt. Pretty Molefe, who could not attend due to other commitments, click here.
After a long delay occasioned by the devastating outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic in December 2019 that led to intermittent national shutdowns for over two years, the rollout of a public awareness campaign about South Africa’s national oil spill contingency plan (NOSCP) is finally underway, with the two Indian Ocean commercial ports of Gqeberha, Eastern Cape province being the first to host the rollout.
Conducted by the South Africa Interim Incident Management Organisation (IMorg) the NOSCP roadshow kicked off at the port of Gqurha, in Algoa Bay near Gqeberha (a.k.a Port Elizabeth) on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday.
Attended by more than 80 people on Tuesday, including representatives of key role players such as the Department of Transport (DoT), South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), environmental organisations and related, according to IMorg, the purpose of the roadshows is to inform and enhance public awareness about the revised NOSCP for the 2019-2024 period, and attendant response strategies to oil spills and related incidents at South Africa’s oceans.
The IMOrg, a virtual organisation chaired by the DoT and SAMSA as the co-chair and secretariat, is South Africa’s preparedness forum for joint Government and ndustry response to oil spills within South Africa’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of approximately 1.5-million km² across the Atlantic, Southern and Indian Oceans.
Launched in 2017, as a deliverable of the Operation Phakisa Oil and Gas laboratory B1 initiative, for joint Government – industry emergency drills, IMOrg’s membership is drawn broadly from across various sectors of society inclusive of State departments, private sector industries as well as non-governmental institutions.
Capt. Ravi Naicker. SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response and IMOrg senior official
According to Capt. Ravi Naicker of the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch and Response, and the entity’s main representative in IMorg, the DoT has a legal responsibility of providing and fulfilling South Africa’s statutory obligations towards marine pollution prevention response along the country’s coastline of more than 3 000 kilometres. This in terms of powers provided in the Marine Pollution (Control and Civil Liability) Act 6 of 1981, Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act 2 of 1986 and in the Marine Pollution (Intervention) Act 64 of 1987.
“These Acts impose obligations on ships and installations and further give power in respect of pollution casualties in so far as pollution occurs, or threatens to occur within waters under South African jurisdiction, being waters comprising the internal and territorial waters, the exclusive economic zone, etc.
“The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes.
“Domestically, the Constitution (Act No. 108 of 1996: Section 24 of the Bill of Rights): provides that everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have the environment protected for the benefit of the present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures.
“The latter section illustrates clearly that the government has a legal obligation to protect the environment through the development and the implementation of the Plan to fulfil this obligation amongst other statutory legislative measures put in place.
“These rights and obligations are embedded in the supreme law in South Africa, which is the Constitution and affords every citizen access to petition a competent court of law to hear the matter and enforce their rights or perceived violations.
“Furthermore, the 2017 version of the South African Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy makes provision for the DoT, in co-operation with other Departments and agencies, to maintain a comprehensive Contingency Plan to ensure compliance with the provisions of the International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation, 1990 (OPRC),” he says.
On what the revised NOSCP now entails and why it is important to enhance public awareness about its provisions, Capt. Naicker says the implementation framework is critical for broad public knowledge and understanding.
The framework, he says, outlines a range of issues including the role and responsibilities of the persons and parties involved in a national response to a marine oil spill in South Africa, relevant information and recommended procedures on appropriate action in the event of an oil spill, arrangements allowing for a rapid and co-operative response to marine oil spills within defined areas, and processes related to the provision of national and international support.
“The NOSCP recognizes that no two incidents are ever the same and therefore the level and intensity of a response varies from incident to incident. The plan is complemented by Government and Industry contingency plans prepared at regional, port and facility levels. Matters of detail are contained in local, site specific, contingency plans,” he says.
A most critical aspect of the NOSCP, according to Capt. Naicker, is the adoption, introduction, and application in South Africa of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) endorsed Incident Management System (IMS) and about which, he says; offers “..a well-structured and inclusively accepted offshore oil spill response management system.’
The IMS scope covers incidents management aspects including the setting up of command structures, planning, operations, logistics and finance arrangement. Broken down into two categories, the IMS consists of three modules – IMS 100, 200 and 300 – involving desktop training of participants, and practical on-the-field real time incident management training in simulated oil spill exercises at sea.
To date, more than 50 people have undertaken the training, conducted variously by international experts including the Global Initiative for West, Central and Southern African (GI-WACAF) Project, International Petroleum Industry Environmental Conservation Association (IPIECA).
On why the IMorg’s NOSCP roadshow started in the Algoa Bay ports of Ngqurha and Port Elizabeth, Capt. Naicker says this was based on IMOrg’s recommendations that environmentally highly sensitive ports be prioritised, a stance fully supported by especially environmental groups such as the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB).
The Algoa Bay’s high risk profile for oil spill contingency plans is based both on the existence and operations of two major commercial ports and a ship-to-ship bunkering operation in the area and alongside which are a diverse wildlife including bird colonies.
For this blog’s brief chat with Capt. Naicker, click on the video below.
For a brief chat with SANCCOB’s representative at the Ngqurha port leg of the roadshow, Ms Monica Stassen click below.
For a brief chat with DFFE & IMOrg official, Ms Feroza Albertus.
All 16 crew of a Taiwanese fishing vessel that sank in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday were successfully rescued overnight (South African time), with none reported to have suffered an injury, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported on Wednesday.
According to the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch and Response based Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town, the successful rescue of the crew occured at approximately 02h30 on Wednesday, with assistance of several vessels that responded to distress and assistance request calls broadcast on Tuesday.
The rescue mission got underway on Tuesday after the Taiwanese fishing vessel DER HAE NO 66 crew sent out a MAYDAY call reporting that the vessel was taking in water to a point that it had to abandon it, in an area at sea some 598 kilometers off the coast of Durban in the Indian Ocean.
According to the MRCC, several ships in the vicinity were immediately called upon to render assistance, and they did so successfully.
The Centre for Sea Watch & Response reported on Wednesday morning: “MRCC Cape Town is glad to report that all of the 16 crew from the fishing vessel (FV) DER HAE NO 66 were rescued.
“The bulk carrier GOLDEN EARL arrived at the scene where the DER HAE NO 66 sank after being abandoned by the Taiwanese and Filipino crew. Unfortunately, the GOLDEN EARL could not recover the survivors from the life raft due to the prevailing swell of 4.0 meters.
“MRCC Cape Town then requested the GOLDEN EARL to remain on-scene, and with the drifting life raft until the fishing vessels JAIN LIH NO 212 and DER HAE NO 6 arrives.
“MRCC released the other vessels, liquid natural gass carrier LOBITA and crude oil tanker RED NOVA EARL to continue with normal voyage.
“The on-scene coordinator, GOLEN EARL reported by 2am on 13 September 2023 that the two Taiwanese fishing vessels had arrived by, and the JAIN LIH NO 212 recovered the 16 crew. No injuries were reported to MRCC Cape Town. The GOLDEN EARL was also released to continue with normal voyage. The on-scene coordinator reported that both fishing vessels shall continue with fishing operations.
“MRCC Cape Town appreciates the efforts of all vessels involved, and the assistance provided by RCC Taipei and Telkom Maritime Radio.”
A rescue operation for fishermen onboard a Taiwanese vessel reportedly sinking is currently underway some 598 kilometers off the coast of Durban in the Indian Ocean, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reports.
The number of fishermen involved is not yet known, save for a MayDay call recorded from the sinking vessel at about 03.18pm (South African time), said the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response based Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) in Cape Town. A number of vessels in proximity of the reportedly sinking fishing vessel had since been mobilised to offer assistance, said the MRCC.
According to the MRCC: “MRCC Cape Town was notified at 15:18 today (12 September 2023) by RCC Taipei that the Taiwanese fishing vessel (FV) DER HAE NO 66 was sinking due to flooding in a position approximately 323NM (598km) East-south-east from Durban, and that the Taiwanese fishing vessels DER HAE NO 6 and ZAN LI NO 212 were diverting to assist.
“The weather forecast for the incident position is winds South-east up to 25 knots (approximately 48km/h) and the Sea State being swell of up to 4m mainly south westerly, as per South African Weather Services (SAWS).
“A MAYDAY relay was issued by Telkom Maritime Radio at the request of MRCC Cape Town and the Liqued Natural Gass Carrier, LOBITA was requested to divert and assist after responding.
“The LOBITA was approximately 155NM (287km) west from the incident position. The vessels bulk carrier, GOLDEN EARL, at approximately 35NM (65km) and the crude oil tanker, RED NOVA EARL, at approximately 60NM (111km), were identified on AIS and requested to divert to the incident position for assistance to be rendered.
“This is a developing and dynamic incident with the SAR response being conducted as aligned with the SASAR Act and Policy.”
This blog will update the story as and when new information is shared.
A photo of the stricken fishing vessel in Gouritzmond area as captured earlier today. Photo Supplied.
Pretoria: 08 August 2023
An urgent search and rescue operation commenced in the southern seas of South Africa early Tuesday morning for a fisher who went missing from a fishing trawler.
This was prompted by a distress signal received from the vessel, which was later discovered to have run aground near Mossel Bay in the Gouritzmond area, according to a report by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
The incident began when a distress call was transmitted by the fishing vessel DIJAANDA, pinpointed to the Gouritzmond region. Responding swiftly, the fishing vessel Vuna Elisa headed toward the potential emergency location, while the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Mossel Bay initiated a search along the coastal shore.
Ultimately, the NSRI managed to locate the vessel stranded on the rocks and successfully rescued the crew members on board. Sadly, out of the seven (7) crew members, four (4) were discovered to have perished, one (1) was injured, and another remained missing.
“The NSRI teams stationed in Mossel Bay and Stilbaai have launched a search and rescue operation for the missing crew member since approximately 7:30 am today,” SAMSA informed.
Further updates are anticipated throughout the day.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) kickstarts its annual Corporate Social Investment & Sustainability (CSI) programme on Nelson Mandela month with an initiative aimed at contributing to drownings prevention in Gauteng.
The SAMSA CSI initiative, involving mostly young people at school level, is being undertaken in partnership with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), a national organisation already engaged with the crisis since 2006.
“The target population will be school children in Gauteng where we plan to contribute to
their basic water handling skills, involving approximately 10 000 pupils from several schools located in communities across the social spectrum,” said SAMSA and the NSRI in a joint statement.
According to SAMSA, the decision by the entity to join the NSRI initiative this year is driven by its commitment to contributing annually to addressing identified socio-economic development needs of particularly the poor, deprived and marginalised. Drowning prevention was identified for this current year as but one such critical water-based crisis in South Africa requiring urgent attention.
According to SAMSA, a report by the World Health Organization (WHO) published in 2021 indicates that on average, 236 000 people deaths occur every year due to drowning.
Closer home, according to the National Library of Medicine (National Centre for Biotechnology Information), said SAMSA; South Africa is globally listed in the top 45 countries with a drowning rate of 4.06 per 100,000 population, or an average 1477 drownings per year, of which fatal drownings accounted for a rate of 2.54 per 100,000 population from 2016 to 2021
The National Library of Medicine states that: “…drowning is a serious public health concern with low-and-middle-income countries [being] the most affected by drowning, as they carry 90% of the global drowning burden.”
Furthermore, drowning is reported to be one of the leading causes of death among mostly people aged 1–24 years, thus denoting the population group that seems more vulnerable. Dr Jill Fortuin, Executive Director of Drowning Prevention Services at the NSRI states that since the inception of the NGO’s water safety programme in 2006 the organization has reached four (4) million children through the project.
“We are delighted as the NSRI that organizations such as the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) are collaborating with us to reach more people, specifically under 14’s through this programme,” she states.
In response, said SAMSA; “From a SAMSA perspective, it is a laudable achievement, but one that requires more support, hence our involvement this year directly with the NSRI.”
According to SAMSA, its CSI focus is shaped by the organisation’s period five-year trategic Plans (2020-25) and attendant Annual Performance Plans developed to advance and maintain consistent attainment of the entity’s mandate which encompasses ensuring safety of people and property at sea, prevention and combating of pollution of the sea by ships, promotion of South Africa’s maritime interest, as well as promotion of safe boating in the country’s inland waters.
“The consistent theme in the mandate is the promotion of safety of people and the environment, be it in our three oceans, the Atlantic, Southern and Indian Oceans; or in our vast inland waterways punctuated by hundreds of small and big dams as well water-based leisure facilities along dozens of rivers
“We are trying to reduce the drowning statistics in our country, and we are delighted in such partnerships as we would like to also change lives for the better and create futures, one child at a time,” said SAMSA.
The organisation also explained what it targeted Gauteng for the drownings prevention campaign support. “According to latest available data on drownings in South Africa, Gauteng is the province with the third highest drowning incidence in South Africa after KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, even as landlocked and being the smallest of the country’s nine provinces, and with the least number of rivers and dams compared to other provinces.
“As it were, according to the NSRI, inland locations in South Africa significantly contribute to the country’s drownings statistics. Meanwhile, it is highly significant that Gauteng just so happens to be home to the country’s highest provincial population (15.8-million 2021 estimates) inclusive of the most poor, deprived, and marginalised. It also holds the record for the highest incidence of drownings across all nine provinces in the 5-19 years age category.
Ms Mapitso Dlepu, Acting Executive Head: SAMSA Centre for Corporate Affairs and Head of SAMSA CSI
“We have joined forces with the NSRI expertise in this area and we specifically chose to run the campaign in July because this year is the 10th anniversary of Madiba’s passing, thereby making it fit with the theme of The Legacy Lives on Through You”, said SAMSA Acting Head of the Centre for Corporate Affairs, Government and International Relations, and head of SAMSA CSI.
Ms Dlepu said key outputs planned would include 10 000 persons receiving Water Safety Education Lessons, deployment of 46 Pink Rescue Buoys, provision of 460 Survival Swimming Lessons and orientation of 46 Drowning Prevention Champions
“To kick start this project we have selected Glen Austin Primary School as the first beneficiary and this school has 200 children who range from Grade 1 to Grade 7. This is the critical age in which they need to be water safe as they are the most vulnerable,” Dr Jill added.
In addition to this, in the summer season, survival swimming lessons would be taught to persons who are residing in the area in which the NSRI teaches survival swimming lessons in the Gauteng province.
The relaunch of South Africa’s maritime sector education and training syllabus committtee in Durban a week ago, after a haitus of just over a year, has been warmly welcomed by the sector, and key to its significance, among other issues, described as being its enhanced inclusiveness.
Stewarded by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), no less than 30 members of the committee, representing virtually all subsectors of the country’s maritime industry across public and private institutions, gathered in Durban over three days from Tuesday to Thursday last week (27-29 June 2023) for the formal relaunch of the national syllabus committee.
According to industry, the 37 member strong commitee’s notable enhanced inclusiveness, now also strongly entrenched through adoption of a new Constitution, and a Code of Conduct, denotes a welcome reapproach to needed broad sector stakeholders’ consultation and collaboration.
Ms Yvonne Wright, founder of Saldahna Bay based Project Maritime Training, Ms Alicia Moreland, Training Coordinator for Viking Fishing, a division of Sea Harvest, and Ms Theresa Williams, a Transnet executive for training, were among those that applauded the latest development.
Ms Theresa Williams. General Manager, Transnet Academy
Ms Alicia Moreland. Training Coordinator, Viking Fishing
Ms Yvonne Wrght. Seafarers Trainer, Progressive Maritime Training. Saldahna Bay
According to SAMSA, the legally mandated custodian and enforcer of the Merchant Shipping (Training, Certification and Safe Manning) Regulations 2021, the relaunch of the maritime sector education and training national syllabus committee last week followed its desolution in June 2022 due to gaps and weaknesses that were identified as hindering its intended objectives.
Among these, was the absence of guiding documentation regarding the committee’s composition and operations, which led to unseemly complications that hampered its effectiveness.
Following the dissolution, said SAMSA Chief Examiner, Mr Azwimmbavhi Nelwamondo last week, industry-wide consultation ensued over a number of months, eventually leading to both the development of a new Constitution and a Code of Conduct, as well as reappointment of sector representatives as members of the committee who were inducted during the relaunch meeting in Durban last week.
Mr Nelwamondo said the Syllabus Committee’s chief role is to serve as a sector advisory body on national maritime sector education and training for certification of seafarers across the board, in terms of the Regulations and, where applicable, strictly consistent with the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Conventions on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping (STCW, 1978 for seafarers) and (STCW-F 1995 for fishers ).
As now fully outlined in the newly adopted Constitution, Mr Nelwamondo said the work of the Syllabus Committee is limited in focus to three aspects; the development, review and maintenance of the training and assessment standards for seafarers, through the Training Standards Code, development and submission of proposals for consideration amendment of Regulations, and identification and channelling to the authority of any other matters relating to the training, assessment and certification of seafarers, raised by members of the public.
Crucially, he added that with membership of the committee in three broad categories comprising ordinary, associate and invited person’s for purposes of formality (‘good order retention and continuity’); “The Syllabus Committee is a public engagement forum, therefore its meetings are open to all members of the public who have interest in the training and development of seafarers.
Below, is a 15 minutes interview with Mr Amwimmbavhi Nelwamondo, in which he fully explains the latest development.
Meanwhile, Ms Zamachonco Chonco, acting CEO of SAMSA described the relaunch of reconstituted Syllabus Committee, almost a year to the day since dissolution, as highly significant with regards to ensuring South Africa’s maintainance of high standards of seafarer education and training on an ongoing basis.
