New horizons for local lasses
Supplier development initiative gives TNPA cadets international training opportunity
TWO young Zululand women are among nine Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) Dredging Services cadets who have completed an 18-day mechatronics training course in the Netherlands.
Zipozethu Fortunate Khumalo from the Nkandla district and Jobe Sphelele Nikiwe from Mtubatuba are among the lucky cadets given this unique career opportunity.
The course at ROVC, a leader in competency development and training for the technical sector, was facilitated by IHC Merwede and forms part of the supplier development requirements of the 2012 Grab Hopper Dredger construction tender, which was awarded to this company.
‘Training people to join our marine divisions is an integral part of the TNPA’s transformation agenda in terms of the Market Demand Strategy and ongoing support of government’s New Growth Path policy,’ said Tau Morwe, Chief Executive TNPA.
‘We have achieved this by facilitating supplier development initiatives which require tender respondents to submit their commitments to development over the duration of the contract and beyond,’ he said.
The students, five women and four men, from across KwaZulu-Natal, all completed their mechanical engineering diplomas at Mangosuthu University Technikon and Durban University Technikon prior to joining TNPA and embarking on a career at sea.
In addition they have completed the six month maritime studies course at Durban University of Technology and are in various stages of their year of seafaring time.
Sophisticated
Training cadets in mechatronics is a first for TNPA’s dredging services, which relies heavily on external specialist technicians to maintain the vessel’s vast array of sophisticated controls and electronics on board.
The additional course is vital as the dredgers are larger and more complex than tugboats. They also carry a separate sophisticated dredging plant that relies on modern control systems and electronics to function.
The cadets’ ability to successfully operate and maintain a vessel so complex will give them skills that are marketable in the international arena.
Cadets who still need to complete their sea time are continuing with their in-service training, while the others prepare for their oral examination to obtain their STCW Marine Engineering Officer of the Watch certificate.
This is an international marine engineers’ ticket that will allow them to work on a ship or dredger in any port in the world.
