Opportunities for seafarer training, jobs

• Published date: 10 June 2022
• Publication title: Cape Times, The (Cape Town, South Africa)

Through its newly established partnership with the SA Maritime Training Academy (Samtra) in Simon’s Town, Glasgow-based Northern Marine is embarking on a hopefully long-term sustainable programme of employing South African cadets and experienced officers

The recruitment of candidates to become part of Northern Marine’s intake of South African cadets has begun, and forms part of the company’s ongoing strategy of producing officers who are immersed in its culture of safety and quality, with the opportunity to progress through the ranks.

In the short term, however, Northern Marine is also seeking junior and senior officers with relevant tanker experience to join its fleet of managed vessels. They will join other South African officers within the fleet. The establishment of this relationship with Samtra is an opportunity to diversify Northern Marine’s seafaring talent pool with additional quality seafarers.

Northern Marine’s first consideration when employing new officers, however, centres on their experience, adaptability and ensuring that they meet the legislative requirements for employment aboard tankers.

This important development enhances the prospects of seagoing careers for South Africans who have noted with despair the demise of the locally flagged fleet, a process that has impacted greatly on long-term careers for local seafarers.

Established in 2003 through far-sighted co-operation between Simon’s Town School and the Western Cape Education Department on the one hand, and Safmarine and the AP Moller Group on the other, Samtra already provides specialised training courses for numerous local and foreign seafarers, many of whom are involved in the offshore oil and gas industry.

Its bridge and marine engine simulation courses are popular with serving officers to upgrade their skills or to prepare for examinations for their seagoing certificates.

In terms of the agreement with Northern Marine, Samtra will provide a crewing service on their behalf, and already has recruited 21 suitably qualified officers for the fleet managed by the Glasgow-based company. In addition, it will appoint six deck cadets and six engineer cadets immediately for employment aboard tankers.

Apart from its existing training programmes and its services to Northern Marine as well as to several other principals, Samtra has additional interesting training plans for next year that will create more opportunities for South African school-leavers to gain worthwhile and internationally...