SPECIAL EDITION In recognition of the unique contribution made by seafarers to global trade, transport and marine resource management as they navigate the waters of the world.
THE NEWSPAPER DEDICATED TO IMPROVING ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR SOUTH AFRICAN SEAFARERS
Seafarers battle it out for industry awards Maritime industry nominates seafarers for recognition
• Winners announced at a Gala Awards dinner ÊÊ Opportunities gained at sea [page 4] ÊÊ Vasbyt attitude furthers fisher’s future [page 6]
ÊÊ Lady pilots achieve a first for Africa [page 8] ÊÊ Fishing crew adapts to respond to emergency situation [page 10] Last year’s winner speaks about her life at sea and what it meant to be win the SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Award! [page 9]
2 The SA SEAFARER II SPECIAL EDITION
SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Awards
Industry gets behind seafarers EDITORIAL EDITOR: Colleen Jacka bridge@seaseafarer.co.za EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Natalie Janse natalie@mmmmmedia.co.za ACCOUNTS & DISTRIBUTION: Lesley Jacka CONTACT: Tel: 021 9141157 Fax: 021 9143742 Web: www.saseafarer.co.za PRINTING VRP Print COPYRIGHT: No content published in SA Seafarer may be reproduced in any form without written permission of the editor. Inclusion of any products in features or product news does not indicate their endorsement by the publishers or staff. Opinions expressed in the editorial are not necessarily those of the publishers, editors or staff of the magazine. Every effort is made to check content for errors, omissions or inaccuracies, but the authors, publishers and contributors connected with the magazine will not be held liable for any of these or for consequences arising therefrom. Published by More Maximum Media, PO Box 3842, Durbanville, 7551.
STAFF REPORTER
F
ollowing the successful launch of the SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Awards in 2010, the South African Maritime Safety Authority has once again partnered with members of the maritime industry to recognise exceptional achievements at sea. This year’s awards are co-sponsored by Smit Amandla Marine, Grindrod Limited, Business Partners, Maritime Review Southern Africa and Sea Harvest. SAMSA has been championing the opportunities offered to those who engage in a career at sea and this year announced the SAMSA Cadet Programme that effectively assisted the placement of South African cadets in training berths internationally. At a send-off for the first 18 of these cadets in April, CEO of SAMSA, Commander Tsietsi Mokhele hailed the occasion as a milestone event that represented the future of some 35 000 future South African seafarers. If successful the SAMSA Cadet Programme, which aims to place
ABOVE: The cadets that launched the SAMSA Cadet Programme in April this year. 140 cadets by the end of the year, will expand to place 480 cadets at sea by the end of 2012. But that’s not all. Mokhele sees the programme expanding by 50 percent year on year with the eventual aim of placing 2000 cadets at sea every year. Sending those 18 youngsters
The Judging Categories
L
ife at sea for our seafarers is varied and the responsibilities as well as challenges that are associated with the various industry sectors saw our judging panel opt to recognise a top performer in each of the following categories.
Fishing The fishermen (and women) of our coasts are involved in one of the most dangerous careers on earth. Fishing vessels, unlike those of the merchant fleet, are not simply involved in sailing from A to B. They are tasked with the catching and preservation of fish at sea. Working in cramped conditions and often not on very stable vessels, the crew and factory workers are under extreme pressure at sea. Most of our fishers are committed to the industry as a way of life; loyal to the companies they work for, are conscious of their fellow crew and are supporting a family at home. This category aims to recognise their unique position in the maritime industry as a valid sector that produces skilled and dedicated seafarers that we can be proud of.
Shore-based Understanding that not all of our professional seafarers undertake long voyages, but do in fact spend their daily lives on the water, our judging panel chose also to honour a “Shore-based Seafarer”. These are the men and women who do a daily job at sea or in our harbours, but return home after their shift. While enjoying the comfort and closeness of their homes and families, many of these seafarers are no less dedicated and skilled than those who spend extended periods away from home. They include our harbour pilots as well as the crew of bunker barges, dredgers, harbour tugs, patrol vessels, ferries and launches as well as emer-
gency response vessels.
Commercial The members of our merchant navy and offshore fleet are highly skilled individuals who have chosen an especially challenging career that poses unique difficulties on them and their families. Often away for long periods of time, they travel the globe, but seldom get to experience the pleasures so often associated with this type of exploration. The days of protracted periods in each port are gone and international legislation prohibits crews from disembarking in many of the foreign ports. At the mercy of the sea and weather during their journey; they are also at the mercy of international laws and jurisdictions when moving into territorial waters. Add the threat of piracy to the list of dangers they face and it is easy to understand why the industry will shortly face a shortage of suitable crew. Despite this, South African seafarers are well respected by the international maritime community and our candidates in this category proved this.
SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Ultimately this campaign has been about identifying an exceptional South African seafarer that the industry can hold up as an example of what can be achieved in the industry through hard work, dedication and a willingness to lead by example. “The winner will have pride in, and enthusiasm for, both the maritime industry and the job. Having these two underlying qualities it follows that the individuals – irrespective of age, position, years of service or gender – should be or become (as the case may be) inspiring role models exhibiting professionalism and the associated attributes of leadership, concern for correctness, safety and the natural environment, and for the quality of image projected,” says Rob Young - judge.
off Cmdr Mokhele said; “Your country needs you more than you know. Without the maritime industry there will be no trade. Without trade we cannot improve the living standards of our people and without improved standards of living there will be no future for our economy. This is not about
ships – this is about the future of our country!” It is against this background that the need to acknowledge our seafarers plays out. This year’s awards recognise seafarers in the fishing sector, the shore-based sector and the commercial sector.
Commitment and hard work pay off at sea STAFF REPORTER
T
he finalists and winners in the SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Competition clearly highlight that the maritime industry offers significant career opportunities for youngsters from diverse backgrounds who are keen to apply themselves.
It is a willingness to learn, work hard and commit to the challenges inherent in a career at sea that sets our winners apart and it is clear from our interviews with them that they have all made a conscious decision to push their own boundaries to achieve. Kelly Klaasen, our last year’s winner is clear about the need to apply oneself 100 percent. “It does not matter where you are from and who you are – if you are willing to give 100 percent – anything is possible. You can succeed in whatever you decide to do,” she says. Her sentiments are borne out this year by most of our finalists. Our fishing category winner, Majaja Piyose, came from a rural town in the Eastern Cape to Saldanha to find work. His ability to apply himself; his willingness to learn and his 100 percent commitment to his new career saw him rise to the position of skipper and today he will command one of Sea Harvest’s most high-tech vessels in their fleet. “Being at sea gives me a lot of strength. For me you never stop learning in the marine environment. That is what I feel. I am still in an eagerness to learn and go forward. I am after knowledge,” he says. Captain Dawie Erasmus, our Commercial Category winner, shows the same kind of tenacity and hails from a region far removed from the sea. As a boy from Upington, he has realised a career path that sees him in command of and responsible for one of Smit Amandla Marine’s newest vessels. “To come from a “desert” childhood, to sailing across the oceans of the sea as Captain of a ship, is testimony that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, apply yourself and work harder than what you play,” he says. The SAMSA Seafarer Awards have helped us highlight the very real opportunities that exist in sending our youth to sea. They have also helped us promote the career as an option for personal growth as well as lifelong learning.
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) acknowledges Seafarers, our People of the sea, for their all-too-often overlooked role in serving daily, the citizens of the world. We salute you! With best wishes for calm seas, fair winds and a safe return home. www.samsa.org.za
SAFE SHIPS • CLEAN SEAS Pretoria Head-Office: 161 Cnr Lynnwood Road Duncan Street, Brooklyn, 0181. Tel: +27 (0)12 366 2600. Fax: +27 (0)12 366 2601.
4 The SA SEAFARER II SPECIAL EDITION
The Commercial Category
Taking advantage of a sea of opportunities with attention to detail Captain Dawie Erasmus featured amongst our top contenders in last year’s seafarer awards and this year has proved that his significant contribution to the new build process being undertaken by his employers, Smit Amandla Marine, ensured the safe delivery of the vessel from China to Durban.
H
e has accomplished much in his career and over the last year continued to show his commitment to detail to achieve the smooth delivery of the Smit Siyanda. Erasmus implemented the CMS system while in China and controlled all the warranty items. In addition he assisted with drawing up of procedures and with the modifications required on the vessel. Through diligent efforts he became competent in ASD ship handling – a major effort is required to master this skill – and he was the first officer to complete a mooring operation using ASD working to specifications in a demanding environment. Given the workload, implementation of systems, acquiring ASD skills, interaction with a demanding environment and the extremely high management skills demonstrated, Erasmus shows he is a deserving candidate who performed above his expected duties for the duration of a challenging project. What is interesting is that Capt Erasmus comes from what he describes as a “desert” childhood and did not consider a career at sea until a chance meeting with the HR manager at De Beers convinced him to apply to become a cadet with the company. Since then he has progressed in the industry and has very definite short, medium and long term goals for himself in the industry.
“To come from a “desert” childhood, to sailing across the oceans of the sea as Captain of a ship, is testimony that anything is possible if you believe in yourself, apply yourself and work harder than what you play,” he says adding that he aims to inspire young cadets through his actions. “The sea offered a small town boy from the middle of the Kalahari an opportunity. I took it and ran with it, eating humble pie when I had to and keeping my head high when I got it right. Today I am the Captain, responsible for my crew, in command of a new multimillion dollar ship. Even I stand amazed some days of where I am and that even the wildest dreams of a small boy have been surpassed.”
“It was an honour and privilege to be made responsible for the latest and most advanced addition to the Smit Amandla Marine fleet,” he says. He hopes to see more youngsters joining the industry, but acknowledges that the exposure given to careers at sea at school is not adequate “I meet many children that have never heard about a career at sea and thus never considered it! For the cadets who do join up, many only get that first CoC and then move off into the concrete jungle. It is a pity as it gets so much more rewarding the higher you go up in the ranks,” he says.
Rob Young, a judge in this year’s competition comments; “In the year under review for this current competition, he has been immersed in the safe delivery, commissioning into service and settling-in of the new Chinesebuilt vessel. “Having had numerous first hand experiences of the same thing, I can therefore appreciate what this candidate has achieved. Being familiar with the nature of the close-quarters and precision operations in which the candidate is now engaged on this new vessel with the demanding oil majors as his customers, I commend his most recent achievements.”
The judging panel weighs in
O
ur judging panel this year comprised of three individuals representing different sectors of the industry – each with a wealth of knowledge gained from working within the maritime industry. Robert Young, who is the only judge that joins us for the second year, joined Unicorn’s ancestral company, Thesen’s Steamship Co, Cape Town, as Cadet Officer 1965 immediately after writing Matric and was appointed Second Engineer Officer at age 21, and Chief Engineer Officer at age 23. Robert obtained First Class Combined Steam and Motor Foreign Going certificate 1973 at age 25 (Currently he holds SAMSA certificate No. 1). He served at sea for ten years (four of which as Chief Engineer) on a variety of ship types and sizes including local trading and foreign-going research, passenger, and container vessels. He was then appointed to Unicorn shore management, Durban in 1975 as Superintendent, and subsequently to the positions of Fleet Manager, Technical Manager, and in 1989 to Marine Director – a position held until retirement at end of January 2010 after 45 years of unbroken service. He was awarded a B.Comm (Economics) degree Cum Laude in 1991 by UNISA. Robert was closely involved in technical concepts of all new ships built for the company since 1975 and, since 1993, was directly responsible for the technical specification and building oversight of some 34 new oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers built to order by Grindrod. Sobantu Tilayi is a qualified engineer who has been involved in the maritime in-
dustry for the past eleven years. He spent five years with the then Portnet (now the National Ports Authority) as a Marine Technical Engineer, moving on to Marine Operations Manager for the port of Durban and ultimately the National Marine Operations Manager for the entire port system. During this period he was also involved with various programmes promoting the development of maritime skills. Some of these included: the tug master training programme, the pilotage programme and the engineering development programme. He also spent three years in the ship repair and ship building industry, initially as part of NPA and then with MERSETA working primarily on skills development programmes. He is currently with the South African Maritime Safety Authority as the Executive Head for Shipping Services where he is responsible for, among other things: shipping compliance, the seafarer registry and maritime skills development. On an internal level he focuses on development programmes such as the gender
based programme and the maritime work exposure programme as well as strategic development for SAMSA as a whole. Nomkhitha Mbele is a Contracts Manager at Smit Amandla Marine. She was educated at both the Cape Peninsula University of Technology and Simon’s Town Maritime School. She started her career at Fairbreeze Diagnostics in 2003 where she held an administrative position. She then moved on to Railroad Africa and Marine Crew Services and then SAMSA in 2006. At SAMSA she held the position of Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Assistant Mission Co-ordinator. Her duties focused around search and rescue operations, from obtaining information on the emergency, plotting search areas, assisting in the development of search plans etc. She has been at Smit Amandla Marine since 2007. Her position as Contracts Manager – NDOT involves liasing with SAMSA/ NDOT on operational requirements as well as with vessel managers on vessel technical requirements and providing mobilisation instructions to vessels.
L-R: Judges, Sobantu Tilayi, Nomkhitha Mbele and Robert Young.
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Congratulations to all
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6 The SA SEAFARER II SPECIAL EDITION
The Fishing Category
“Vasbyt” attitude furthers fisherman’s future at sea
ABOVE AND LEFT: Majaja “Jackson” Piyose In August of this year he was chosen as the relief skipper for one of Sea Harvest’s newly converted freezer trawlers – an achievement that will help him realise his ambition to further his knowledge base at sea. “It is something very big to me and it means that Sea Harvest support me,” he says adding that he feels respected as a young skipper. “To be given this vessel and this opportunity is a good challenge. It is a different story because we will no longer be doing small operations,” he says explaining that the trips are far longer and that the processing on board needs to be perfect and ready to go straight from the vessel to the market.
Today, as the newly appointed skipper of Sea Harvest’s recently converted freezer vessel – the Harvest Veronica, Majaja “Jackson” Piyose can reflect on a career that proves that dedication, hard work and a willingness to learn are key ingredients in his recipe for success.
P
iyose left Umtata when a shortage of money to complete his schooling drew him to the West Coast town of Saldanha to seek work. After a brief temporary contract with Namakwa Sands, Piyose turned his gaze towards Sea Harvest and literally sat on the quayside for three months waiting for an opportunity to board one of the vessels getting ready to go to sea. His patience paid off and he found himself boarding the Harvest Shamrock for his first fishing trip. Slipping out the harbour at nightfall, it was not until the next morning that Piyose realised just how remote his new job made him feel. “When I went on deck and outside I saw nothing – no mountains nothing, nothing – just water and my heart started beating a bit and I asked the deck foreman: how long are we going to stay here?” That six-day trip was the beginning of a sea career where he has proved himself based on his eagerness to learn. It did not take long for Piyose to realise that
“I am going to learn now how to deal with outside environment like selling fish overseas – how to deal with those people, which I don’t know at this stage,” he says.
there was a lot of opportunity to learn at sea and he started taking a book with him to write down everything he could while at sea. And soon he found himself torn between staying with Sea Harvest to pursue a career at sea and going back home to finish Grade 12. “It had become familiar to me and it had taken my heart,” he says. After consulting with his family and returning home to discuss his future options, Piyose made the decision to pursue the opportunities that seemed to exist in the small town of Saldanha and at Sea Harvest. Remembering the time when he returned to the vessels of Sea Harvest Piyose says: “I thought this was going to be my dream and my forefathers released me, but said remember that there is no time to waste.” With renewed vigour and an obvious eagerness to learn, he rejoined the crews in 1996 and says; “If I want to learn something, I just give my heart to it so that I can like it.” Soon, however, he started to
Nominating him, Russell Hall of Sea Harvest says: “Jackson continues to grow as a person, professionally as a skipper and is an integral member of our senior seagoing cadre.”
work with ambition as he became aware of the ranks on the vessels. “I wanted to be an officer and I said to myself – one day I will be a skipper.” His determination did not go unnoticed and he was soon being pushed to learn more by senior crew members. And when the opportunity for further training ashore came along there was no way that he was not going to take full advantage of it. “This is what I wanted; this is the reason I came,” he said of the challenge of undertaking formal studies to further his career. “I did not miss anything and I realised
that I like the marine environment very much because there are a lot of opportunities,” he said. “Being at sea gives me a lot of strength. For me you never stop learning in the marine environment. That is what I feel. I am still eager to learn and go forward. I am after knowledge.” Now that he has realised his ambition to become a skipper, Piyose believes that there are still more opportunities to study and aims to learn more from the experienced skippers that he works with at Sea Harvest. “It is a big challenge for me.”
Judging the candidate, Rob Young points out: “this country boy overcame significant hurdles that included lack of money and an incomplete school education to become not only a fully-qualified trawler skipper, but a highly regarded one in charge of a costly, high-tech freezer trawler.” “This must have required much diligence and hard work, as well as a good dose of “people skills” “It is noted too that he does not jealously keep his secrets of success to himself, but guides and mentors others who also demonstrate a desire to make progress in their careers.”
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8 The SA SEAFARER II SPECIAL EDITION
The Shore-Based Category
Africa’s first lady pilots to get open licences Three Durban-based ladies made history this year when they became the first female pilots to obtain their open licences that enables them to navigate ships of any size and type into South African waters.
N
ot only are these three of only five female marine pilots in South Africa, but their open licence gives them authority to guide anything from the very smallest vessels to the biggest supertankers and container ships into port. Working in the port of Durban - South Africa’s busiest port the ladies are often called upon to undertake at least five or six vessel moves a day. The three were among the earliest development candidates introduced by Transnet National Ports Authority in the late 90’s to encourage more black participation in the country’s ports. Precious Dube, thirty something from Inanda Newtown, was the first female to qualify with an open licence and said she was very excited when told of her historic achievement. “The captains of foreign ships can be very sceptical when you’re a woman because it’s not common for them to see a female marine pilot, although I’ve heard there are a few in the United States and possibly Australia,” she said. She said she was used to being quizzed about her experience as a pilot. “But once you exchange information with the captain and make him feel confident that you
know the port like the back of your hand and can get his ship into the port safely, you win him over easily enough,” she says. Drawn into the marine industry after initially studying to become a teacher - she has her sights set on eventually becoming a harbour master. For now, however, the opportunity to work as a harbour pilot allows her to enjoy the benefits of a sea career without having to commit to long periods away from home. Bongiwe Mbambo, 29, is originally from Esikhawini on the North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, but now lives in Glenwood, Durban. She laughs when she recalls the amazement of the captain of the first vessel she guided in after qualifying as an open licence pilot recently. “The captain actually took photographs and recorded a video while I was performing my job alongside him. It was very funny,” she says. Pinky Zungu was the latest to qualify and echoed the proud sentiments of her peers. “Being at sea was difficult at first. I was the only cadet and the only female on a Russian ship where only the captain spoke English well. But I eventually befriended another South African woman who joined the ship later and together we focused on
SMIT Amandla Marine (Pty) Limited is the leading specialist marine services company in Southern Africa. As a Level 3 Contributor to Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment, we are passionate about our diverse workforce and offer a competitive remuneration package in our niche market. With operations coastwise from Port Nolloth, Saldanha Bay, Cape Town and Mossel Bay to Durban, Richards Bay and Beira, we are well placed to serve our clients. We value teamwork, integrity, innovation and an ethos of service excellence in our people. We are currently inviting applications for the following sea-going position:
MASTER/MATE (COASTAL) REQUIREMENTS: your CV and relevant supporting documentation; an appropriate and valid STCW 95 Certificate of Competency where relevant, as issued by SAMSA; experience in and exposure to ship handling in the offshore industry will be advantageous. At SMIT Amandla Marine you can anticipate a competitive, market related remuneration package, world class training & development, stability & security, and working alongside a team of other proud South Africans! INTERESTED? Forward a comprehensive CV to fax 021 507 5844 or to careers.smitamandla@smit.com or to P.O. Box 1339, Cape Town 8000. Appointment will be made in line with the Company’s Employment Equity Plan.
Investing in the Maritime Industry of the Future - Today www.smit.com
Precious Dube, Bongiwe Mbambo and Pinky Zungu are proud of their achievements as the first ladies to obtain their open pilots licences. achieving our career goals despite the challenges,” she said. “Today I love my job and can imagine myself still doing this at the age of 65,” she says. The three followed similar career paths, first receiving bursaries from Transnet to pursue a one-year maritime studies programme. They then completed experiential training as cadets out at sea with shipping lines such as Safmarine and Unicorn, sailing between South Africa, Europe and the Far East.
After a compulsory oral examination with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) they obtained Class 3 tickets to be junior deck officers responsible for auto piloting vessels and managing safety equipment. They then trained and worked as tug masters at Transnet, manoeuvring ships in and out of the port with the aid of small tugboats. After a one year pilot training programme they qualified as junior pilots before progressing through the various licence grades, starting with smaller ships of around 16 000 gross tons, then
20 000, 25 000, 35 000 and eventually finishing with an open licence that they hold today. All three are clear about what drives them to achieve more and are more than capable of handling any doubts expressed by incoming captains onboard vessels entering Durban. They agree, however, that since the widening of the harbour piloting is a lot easier despite still having to negotiate currents and weather conditions that sometimes challenge them as much as the doubting captains.
The SA SEAFARER II SPECIAL EDITION 9
2010 SAMSA Seafarer of the Year
Speaking to last year’s winner about what it meant to win
W
e tracked down Kelly Klaasen, last year’s winner of the SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Award before she headed out to sea again and asked her about her career choice and what winning the inaugural meant to her. What are the greatest challenges facing seafarers today? Being away from loved ones for months at a time – that would be the hardest part of being at sea. But I also find that nowadays the whole threat of piracy has become a big challenge for a lot of us that sail in high risk areas. Being vigilant of safety (in piracy risk areas) is taking a lot out of seafarers so I think those are the two biggest challenges we have. Have you ever experienced piracy firsthand? I have never had any personal experience, but I have been in piracy areas where we have had to go on piracy watches. What makes your work so rewarding to you? What makes my work at sea so rewarding is the experience you gain. You get experience in pneumatics, hydraulics, electronics, electrics, mechanical and that to me is a lot
more rewarding, because when I decide to come ashore one day I can work into absolutely any plant and be able to apply my skills that I acquired at sea. Is enough being done to promote the idea of a career at sea? I think a lot more exposure needs to be given to the maritime industry. We as people at sea need to take time out to actually go out there and actually talk to people about what we do and what it involves and the benefits of doing what we are doing. And then I think government needs to have a bigger campaigns to encourage the youth to actually consider a career at sea. Why do you think awards such as this are important? I feel it is important because in the past there has not been an acknowledgement for those at sea and now all of a sudden people are starting to notice the impact we have on the economy. I think it is important to acknowledge the sacrifices that people at sea make in order to get whatever people have in their house from point A to point B. It is important to acknowledge the hard work that goes into being a seafarer. What did it mean to you to win this award? Personally to me it means that me being
me and being hardworking has actually been noticed. It does not matter where you are from and who you are – if you are willing to give 100 percent – anything is possible. You can succeed in whatever you decide to do. And obviously, being a product of Simons Town High School, it shows what this programme can do and if people just support it imagine what more we can achieve with this programme. So it personally to me it emphasises the impact that the Simons Town High School and the maritime programme has on my future. What sort of reaction did you get from other seafarers after winning the award? I found that a lot of females at sea are encouraging me to go further; to push harder and telling me that they are behind me 100 percent so I feel that the whole female to female bond is a lot stronger now with me having won this award and doing it for the girls so I think that’s a big thing. What did you do with the money you won with the award? I have not spent any of it yet. I will be using it to do my S4 and S5 and get my diplomat and my second engineer’s ticket next year. What differentiates a good seafarer from a great seafarer?
I think consistency and always giving 100 percent - even when times are really tough. Safety is important and the environment is important so giving 100 percent in consistency and pushing forward differentiates the two. What drew you to the maritime industry? In 2004 I decided to do the maritime programme at Simons Town High School and part of the programme was sailing. When I first went sailing I absolutely fell in love with the sea; fell in love with the maritime programme and then decided to pursue a career in the maritime industry.
10 The SA SEAFARER II SPECIAL EDITION
2011 SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Award
Fishing crew adapts to respond to emergency situation The first indications of a likely oil spill were evident less than 24 hours after the 75 000 tonne bulk carrier MS Oliva ran aground at Spinners Point on Nightingale Island on 16 March. What ensued was a Herculean effort on the part of the crew of the Edinburgh alongside the Tristan da Cunha islanders to mobilise and respond to the crewmembers; the potential wreck and the animal life that was sadly affected by the spill.
T
he 43-member strong Edinburgh crew, which derives a portion of their income from commission earned based on the catch, were forced to stop fishing as the island closed the fishing grounds. Faced with the real possibility of a reduced pay package, the crew nevertheless did not shy away from stepping in to assist.
Edinburgh who were tested in treacherous weather. The loading and transportation of hundreds of stressed penguins is a far cry from the usual cargo that the crew is accustomed to handling – yet they adjusted well to the scientists and conservationists on board even as their seamanship was challenged throughout the duration of the extended clean-up period.
Under the captaincy of Clarence October, the crew’s first response was to evacuate crewmembers from the stricken bulk carrier. Initially it was just 12 of the crew that opted to be evacuated, while the remaining nine elected to stay on the vessel.
Ovenstone’s Dorrien Venn points out that, although the crew’s wages were paid in part by the vessel being chartered for the clean-up operation – they did not realise the full benefit of the fishing trip as no commission was paid.
It was soon apparent, however, that the remaining crew would have to be evacuated as the Oliva showed signs of breaking and the weather deteriorated. At this stage it was not possible to get the bigger vessels close to the casualty and rubber ducks were used to remove the crew to safety. Capt October emphasises the role played by one of the Edinburgh crew in this operation. With expert knowledge of the area and the sea, Thembinkois Hlongwane was an integral cog in ensuring that this process took place safely as he assisted the crew of the Prince Albert in these endeavours. As the clean-up operation continued and the need to evacuate oil-covered penguins became apparent – it was the crew of the
He adds, however, that the crew remained positive despite this and did not spare any effort to assist where necessary. “The crew really did a splendid job under difficult circumstances,” says Ovenstone’s Andrew James adding that they had excellent co-operation with the passenger Liner – the Prince Albert. Both Venn and James point out the positive effect that the experience has had on the crew; explaining that the severity of the situation showed the crew the risk that they face every time that they go down to the remote fishing grounds of Tristan da Cunha. Now they are even more attentive when on watch and a renewed safety culture has been inculcated on board. Rob Young, one of the judges
who admits to following the drama unfold believes that what ensued clearly demonstrated that the crew was well lead by their skipper; competent and skilled; adaptable to perform safely outside of their usual roles as fishermen; motivated and reminded of the hazards of seafaring. “I followed the unfolding accounts of the Oliva casualty closely at the time so am aware of the significant role played by Edinburgh and the “boutique” passenger ship Prince Albert in the rescue of the Oliva crew and the subsequent efforts to minimise harm by oil pollution to the natural environment. “The drama pitched the Candidate crew into an unusual emergency rescue-cum-environmental protection role. Despite the fact that the fishing crew had received no in-depth training in these specialist fields and, notwithstanding their unfamiliarity with this sort of activity, the exposed location and the limited resources at their disposal, the tasks were executed without fuss or accident in a most professional manner,” says Young.
“The crew really did a splendid job under difficult circumstances,” says Ovenstone’s Andrew James.
Left: The Oliva starts to show signs of breaking up as the last of the crew are ferried to safety on dinghies. Below: The Oliva crew are transported to the Edinburgh on small vessels. Below left: The Oliva breaks up off the Nightingale Island. Bottom: The effects of the oil spill can clearly be seen on the surface of the water.
Acknowledgements:
T
he second edition of the SAMSA Seafarer of the Year competition owes much to a number of team players who have put in long hours and contributed financially to the success of another opportunity to recognise our seafarers.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority has obviously once again put their name to the awards and deserves praise for seeing the need to elevate the career choice of those who have elected to pursue a career at sea. Without their vision in this regard as well as their ongoing support of seafarers through other platforms – this sector of the maritime industry would continue to go largely unnoticed. Our other industry partners: Smit Amandla Marine, Grindrod Limited and Sea Harvest are three employers of seafarers and it is gratifying to see that they too acknowledge the need to recognise excellence, professionalism and commitment to safety amongst our sea-going community. To add Business Partners and Maritime Review Southern Africa to the list of sponsors is to understand that it is essential to go beyond just the employers of seafarers to further the appreciation for this sector of the maritime industry. In addition to the companies that have stood behind these awards, we owe a debt of gratitude to those individuals who have taken the time to nominate fellow crewmembers or colleagues. To our judges; Sobantu Tilayi, Rob Young and Nomkhitha Mbele, we are grateful for the time and thought you put into reviewing the nominations; and for your comments that relate to the quality of those individuals that they represented. To our speakers tonight: Deputy Minister of Transport, Jeremy Cronin; the CEO of SAMSA, Commander Tsietsi Mokhele, Capt Karl Otto, thank you for your structured comments and sentiments expressed about the martime industry. Thank you to our winners for their outstanding work over the last year. May you continue to inspire more people to join the maritime industry and produce even greater results in your career path ahead. To those that worked tirelessly behind the scenes in producing this evening’s content: the team at Maritime Review Southern Africa; the event and media team at SAMSA, the AV specialists at Labspace TV; the event organising gurus at Global Interface; the PR machine at C-Squared Group; the entertainment professionals tonight, sound engineers and of course the Master of Ceremonies.
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Lastly, may I take this opportunity to thank the members of the media in advance for the exposure that they will give to our industry following this event. Please understand and try to convey to your readers a sense of the magnitude of influence that these men and women that put to sea have on our daily lives. They are the backbone of global trade and without them the faucet that is international commerce would be but a dripping tap! Colleen Jacka
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The South African Seafarer is a new publication that will be launched in the first quarter of 2012 and will appear four times a year. It will be linked to an internet-based resource aimed at linking South African seafarers to each other as well as providing access to information affecting those who hve chosen a career at sea.
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FAX TO: 086 544 5405 www.saseafarer.co.za You can find the Audio Visual footage of the SAMSA Seafarer of the Year Winners on YouTube (www.youtube.com/ user/SASeafarer. You can also find us on Facebook for updates from the maritime industry.