It was anchors aweigh for 15 young maritime cadets as they began their practical training on the high seas – and made history in the process.
|||Durban - It was anchors aweigh for 15 young maritime cadets as they began their practical training on the high seas – and made history in the process.
The cadets joined 30 others from across SA on the newly refurbished Dedicated Training Vessel, formerly the SA Agulhas 1, for its maiden training voyage.
The Agulhas 1 formerly operated as a research vessel for the Department of Environmental Affairs.
The SA Dedicated Training Vessel left Durban on Monday on a three-month journey to London. En route the ship will visit Namibia, Angola, Ghana, Liberia and Senegal, before returning to SA.
“The plan was to acquire a training vessel for South African and African learners, which will be a lot more efficient and cost effective,” said Ayanda Mngadi, executive head of the SA Maritime Safety Authority’s centre for corporate affairs.
Talent Kubheka, who lives in Richards Bay, said the training she had received had been “life-changing”.
“At first my family was a little shocked that I wanted to go into this field, but I’ve always been interested in it. It started when I was at school and the Durban University of Technology came to talk to us about different careers,” she said.
It was then that she knew that she would not be happy doing anything else.
“It’s everything I want: adventure, with an exciting lifestyle and travel. I’ve also learnt a lot about myself and been taught other important skills, such as basic paramedic training and first aid,” she said.
Lita Malata, of Umzimkhulu, who boarded the vessel in Cape Town, said the experience had been “thrilling”.
“I’m putting what I’ve learnt into practice. I hope to be a captain one day,” she said.
Gavin Chisale, a chemical engineering student from Johannesburg, was excited about the training at sea.
“It’s like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” he said, smiling.
Once the students have completed the theoretical component of their course, they need to clock up six month s at sea.
Commander Tsietsi Mok-hele said SA had relatively few seafarers and this, and the unemployment levels, could be addressed “if more people were encouraged to take up opportunities in the maritime industry, especially women”.
Mngadi said the cadets’ training would include research that would provide a better understanding of the vulnerabilities of coastal and ocean ecosystems.
Captain Saroor Ally, regional manager of the east coast region, said the new cadets might struggle to find their “sea legs”, but he expected them to enjoy the experience.
“They seem like an enthusiastic, bright bunch, so I’m sure they will do well,” he said. - Daily News
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