TRANSFORMATION is needed in the maritime industry to make it more inclusive and where stakeholders work together instead of competing against each other in an effort to boost the maritime economy. So said acting CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority, Sobantu Tilayi, on the eve of the Ethekwini Maritime Cluster which took place in Durban last week.
Tilayi called on maritime industry players to come to the table and fultill their responsibility of contributing towards job creation. “We have to engage with industry and motivate them to play their role in job creation. it is very important for us to get as many people as possible to participate in the maritime industry. We need more seafarers,” he said.
He told delegates that government had, through Operation Phakisa, identified marine transport and manaufacturing activities, such as coastal shipping, trans-shipment, boat building, repair and refurbishment, offshort oil and gas exploration, aquaculture and marine protextion service as well as ocean governance, as key drivers that could boost the economy.
He said in addition to marine transport and manufacturing the other potential sectors within the maritime hub, 650 000 job could be create within this growing sector.
Tilayi said it was part of his vision as a leader to see greater awareness about the maritime industry as a viable economic sector in the country. He said the maritime sector ought to be an attractive industry for the country’s youth and more should be done to “open up” the industry.
SAMSA, at present is busy establishing a full database of maritime sector professionals as well that of unemployed maritime sector graduates to improve the flow of skills and labour within the country’s maritime sector. “We are currently having discussions with tertiary institutions such as the Durban University of Technology and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology to devise strategies of making provision for graduates to easily enter the sector.”
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