SAMSA to promote maritime careers

Executive head of the Centre for Maritime Excellence, Sindiswa Nhlumayo, speaking at the launch of the Maritime Careers Expo and Job Summit on Friday, 31 June, said with 3000 km of coastline, the sea holds unlimited opportunities. SAMSA was determined to ensure that young people had the necessary skills to ensure that South Africa could benefit from the organisation's planned acquisition of a mining vessel to train students.

"One of SAMSA's obligations is to promote the development of an efficient and productive South African maritime industry capable of competing on international markets. By acquiring this vessel we will impart new skills and fulfil our obligation," Nhlumayo said.

The Maritime Careers Expo and Job Summit will be held from 10-12 June 2013 at Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre, attracting thousands of school pupils and people employed in the maritime industry.

Opportunities for employment

The maritime sector is multi-disciplinary and offers careers such as offshore mining, offshore oil and gas, seagoing officers, maritime lawyers, naval architecture, ship design, ship services, surveyors, ships husbandry, stevedoring and shipbuilding and ship repair. Other areas offering maritime employment are maritime insurance, maritime tourism, maritime financial institutions, government institutions, shipping agents, and maritime salvage.

Nhlumayo said South Africa sits with a huge unemployment problem although globally and locally there is a huge demand for those employed in the maritime sector. Part of SAMSA's aim is also to develop skills and create more maritime entrepreneurial opportunities and "dispel the myth that water is for certain people and not for us".

Nhlumayo said the career expo and job summit would not only show those who attended what opportunities existed but employers in the maritime industry would have a chance to express what skills were needed.

For further information, go to samaritimecareers.co.za.