Maritime community gathers to remember seafarers

AMSOL hosts memorial to honour the lives and contributions of the five colleagues that lost their lives at sea

SOUTH AFRICA: Members of the maritime community gathered together at a special ceremony in Cape Town yesterday to honour the five seafarers who lost their lives in a tragic accident at the beginning of October.

Maritime signal flags spelled out the names of Akhona Mlaba (26), Simphiwe Simayi (29), Ditaba Leoto (48), Zolile Mlibaziso (43) and Sibonile Qalani (43) across one wall of the hall as a reminder that the incident represents more than a maritime statistic to their families and to their colleagues at AMSOL.

Paying tribute to his colleagues, AMSOL CEO, Dan Ngakane, emphasised the importance of the lives each of the names represented. “Today we honour the lives and the memories they leave behind. They were never simply names on a group list,” he said, speaking directly to the family members who were in attendance.

“For those people working at sea – this loss may feel especially close to you. We must continue to look after one another and speak openly when you need support,” he said addressing AMSOL seafarers adding that “our people are our greatest responsibility”.

“Safety is more than just a policy. It demands that we follow procedures; that we speak up when necessary and have the courage to stop. We must never allow interference, operational practice or demands to diminish that responsibility,” he said acknowledging that an appropriate investigation would process and establish the circumstances of the incident. “We will respect those processes, avoid speculation and allow evidence to bring us understanding,” he added.

The memorial provided family members and colleagues with an opportunity to share reflections and stories. Each personality and achievement was given space and elevated beyond the tragedy as professional milestones as well as personal anecdotes were shared.

The gathering also provided an opportunity for people from across the maritime industry to come together and acknowledge the work being done by those at sea and the importance of community.

Ultimately, however, it was about speaking the names of Akhona, Simphiwe, Ditaba, Zolile and Sibonile and honouring their memories, lives and contributions.