in this issue · textbook launch in early february was a historical event in the maritime education...

www.maritimecluster.co.za Newsletter Issue: February 2018

Bringing you fresh news! 1

IN THIS ISSUE:

M e s s a g e f r o m t h e M D STRONG MOMENTUM

“It’s going to be a very productive and interesting journey.”

S t r a t e g i c P l a n n i n g S e s s i o n EMBRACING TRANSFORMATION

“EMC has elected a new Board of Directors. Serving on the Board are maritime leaders.”

M a r i t i m e E d u c a t i o n MARITIME TEXTBOOK LAUNCH

“These textbooks are going to assist a great deal in capacitating our learners and their educators”

www.maritimecluster.co.za February 2018


The year 2018 has begun with strong momentum - and a more positive outlook than when we closed last year, following productive and proactive engagement with stakeholders. EThekwini Maritime Cluster opened this year with an effective strategic planning meeting attended by newly elected Board Members. I left this engagement feeling that it is going to be a very productive and interesting journey. There are lots of projects in the pipeline for implementation – many of which are new. It will take the commitment of the EMC team and valued stakeholders to ensure the success of these projects, which include the Boat Building Park initiative being driven by EMC’s Marine Manufacturing Unit. EMC’s Training & Skills Development Unit aim to unlock more opportunities for unemployed graduates this year, primarily through EMC’s graduate placement programme. It is our intention to place 39 graduates within the maritime industry in 2018. Another focus in 2018 is on Maritime Promotion and Awareness, and EMC is aiming to bring the 3rd Annual Maritime Career Expo to Durban in May 2018, reaching out to learners from remotes areas to share information with both Educators and Learners about maritime related careers. If your organization would like to participate in this exciting initiative or become involved as a sponsor, please contact EMC’s Zenzile Makelo. EMC’s Supplier Development Unit, in partnership with Transnet, will be rolling out the Enterprise & Supplier Development Programme. Our Industry Promotion Unit is also looking closely at the Smart Port City initiative. Inside this issue, you will find latest news and developments. Bidvest Graduates are the success story from EMC’s Training & Skills Development Programme. You will also be introduced to the new EMC Board of Directors who represent various maritime organisations. The Grade 12 Maritime Economics Textbook launch in early February was a historical event in the maritime education sector, and Transnet recently unveiled new shore cranes – read all about this exciting infrastructure improvement project! Thank you for reading our ‘new look’ newsletter! We wish you a safe and productive month of February. Kind regards,

Noma Sokhela

MESSAGE FROM THE MD A c t i n g E M C M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r , M s N o m a l a n g a S o k h e l a



There have been increasing demands for economic transformation and innovation in the maritime industry, which is why EThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) has worked closely with industry role-players to facilitate transformation in the sector through key initiatives. Good relationships with industry stakeholders is key. Last year, the EMC voiced gratitude to outgoing EMC Managing Director, Ms. Thato Tsautse. Her contribution to the maritime industry in Durban was acknowledged and appreciated. As 2017 ended, a new Board of Directors was elected. The mission of EMC remains clear and unchanged - to transform the industry and build on the foundation established since 2009. Under the Chairmanship of Mr Moshe Motlohli (Port Manager, Port of Durban - TNPA), the new Board includes a number of maritime business leaders and influencers who will assist in doing just that by providing guidance and direction to the team. The Board engaged with the EMC team in a ‘Strategy & Execution Development Plan Workshop’ held on the 29th of January, with the purpose of reviewing EMC’s achievements, mission and objectives. This strategic planning session also involved setting new goals and developing a detailed execution plan. Amongst the programmes in focus are Marine Manufacturing, as well as Enterprise & Supplier Development, Training & Skills Development and the promotion of the maritime industry. 2018 has just begun and the future of EMC has been entrusted to new hands. Please join us in welcoming EMC’s new Board and wishing them well into the future as they guide EMC through seas that will at times be rough and stormy!

Embracing transformation in the maritime sector E M C w e l c o m e s a n e w B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s a n d r e v i e w s i t s s t r a t e g i c d i r e c t i o n

A r t i c l e b y N o m f u n d o S i t h o l e



A WAVE OF SUPPORT FOR MARITIME EDUCATION

TEXTBOOK LAUNCH A MILESTONE IN THE INDUSTRY

A Grade 12 Maritime Economics Textbook was officially launched on Thursday the 8th of February at the Premier Hotel in Pinetown. The author of this book, Ms. Balungile Masuku, has made it possible to bridge the gap between the private sector and the Department of Education. She first introduced the Grade 10 Maritime Economics textbook in 2015, followed by the Grade 11 Maritime Economics textbook in 2016.

EThekwini Maritime Cluster’s (EMC) acting Managing Director, Ms. Noma Sokhela (pictured right) delivered the opening speech at the event, attended by maritime stakeholders. She congratulated the maritime industry on the 3rd Maritime Economics textbook and highlighted the challenges faced by the maritime industry with respect to training.

Strategic Planning & Communications Manager at AMSOL, Ms. Clare Gomes, was the keynote speaker. She acknowledged the commitment of Ms Masuku and praised her for not giving up despite the obstacles she encountered in publishing the textbooks. “This is more than just a textbook - it is a book of stories about possibilities for the future of the maritime industry”, said Ms Gomes. She further emphasized the story of entrepreneurship in action by highlighting the entrepreneurial skills of Ms. Masuku.

EMC’s Training & Skills Development Manager Zenzile Makelo: “The maritime community is very proud of Mrs Masuku and more people of her caliber are needed. These textbooks are going to assist a great deal in the capacitation of our learners who have chosen Maritime Economics in high school.”

African Marine Solutions (AMSOL), More Maximum Media and the Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) collaborated to make history in the maritime industry by supporting MCSD and Mrs Masuku in publishing the Grade 12 Maritime Economics text book. The textbooks were handed over to the Department of Education’s Ms B.T Dlamini (Chief Director, Curriculum KZN) and officially launched! #MaritimeEducationManifestations



Transnet’s Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Siyabonga Gama recently unveiled new diesel electric straddle carriers in the Port of Durban, representing a capital investment of nearly R308 million in the replacement of ageing equipment.

The commissioning of these straddles represented a ground-breaking milestone in that Transnet Engineering, in partnership with leading OEM Kalmar, not only assembled the equipment but manufactured key components in Durban for the Durban Container Terminal (DCT) Pier 2 operations.

This partnership also involved training and the sharing of technical knowledge and skills with Transnet engineers.

“The 23 straddles is the start of a journey that will see Transnet Engineering and local enterprises

supply components for the marine sector,” said Mr Gama, highlighting that this was an indication of Transnet’s commitment to localization and industrialization of the country.

In keeping with this commitment Mr Dean Moodley, Chief Engineer for KZN Containers, told SA Shipping News that TE was currently manufacturing a prototype hauler made to Transnet specifications, and it was expected that from 2018 they would begin to manufacture haulers to replace the other ageing haulers.

TE manufactured the bumpers, columns and the spreaders of the straddles. This was the first time ever that the spreaders had been manufactured outside of Europe.

“Along with the straddles come 29 new haulers and a new strategy that ensures that the straddles are used correctly on short hauls from ship to quayside stack. The haulers will work the long run from the quayside to the truck stacks”, said Mr Moodley. Nine of the new haulers are already in operation and the other 20 were commissioned during December 2017. Combined with forty 5-6-year-old haulers currently in operation, there will be a total of 69 haulers working the north quay.

The new haulers will bring the total hauler numbers to 144.

Infrastructure improvements at Transnet Port Terminal Operations R 3 0 8 m i l l i o n i n v e s t m e n t

O r i g i n a l a r t i c l e b y B o b W h i t e h o u s e , S A S h i p p i n g N e w s

R i g h t : M r J u l a n i D u b e ( T P T G e n e r a l M a n a g e r : K Z N C o n t a i n e r s ) , p i c t u r e d w i t h T r a n s n e t ’ s G r o u p C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r M r S i y a b o n g a G a m a .



FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR EMC GRADUATE PLACEMENT PROGRAMME!

WORKPLACE EXPERIENCE VITAL TO YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

Ms Londiwe Shozi and Ms Sthembile Chili were amongst the 2017 graduates who were beneficiaries of the eThekwini Maritime Cluster (EMC) graduate placement programme that is creating a wave of success in the maritime space. Londiwe is an IT graduate from Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT) and Sthembile is a Safety & Environmental Management graduate from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). After graduating in 2016, the two young women were placed at Bidfreight Port Operations in Durban in March of 2017. Their experience at Bidfreight has enlightened them, bridging the gap between theory and practical. The experience has been an eye opener and has given them a better understanding of their roles. “I have gained confidence through this experience”, said Sthembile.

Despite encountering some challenges along the way, the workplace experience has shaped their career paths. They expressed their gratitude for the opportunity. The duo is due to finish their first year at Bidfreight in February 2018. #EMCGraduateProgrammeMakingWavesOfSucess! In 2018, the EMC Graduate Placement Programme will continue to address the problem of high unemployment by facilitating strategic partnerships between graduates and the private industry. Says EMC’s Training & Skills Development Manager Ms Zenzile Makelo, “First contact work experience for newly qualified graduates is a very important part of career pathing”. Ms Makelo went on to add that EMC, in partnership with the Transport Education & Training Authority (TETA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding to place 39 graduates in the maritime industry during 2018. She went on to express her gratitude to the maritime industry stakeholders who collaborated with EMC to ensure the success of the programme.

This year, EMC will host the 3rd Annual Maritime Career Expo in partnership with the eThekwini Municipality. The event is aimed at educating, empowering, inspiring and informing the people of Durban about the Port of Durban and how to access career options within the maritime industry.

Propelling EMC’s goal of eradicating unemployment and ensuring sustainable economic growth, these programmes are important foundations of success.

www.maritimecluster.co.za Newsletter Issue: February 2018

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in this issue · textbook launch in early february was a historical event in the maritime education...

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