Training centre celebrates milestone with plans for future growth

Training centre calls on industry to collaborate

SOUTH AFRICA: Capitalising on their 21-year milestone anniversary, the South African Maritime Training Academy has initiated a process to work collaboratively with industry stakeholders to develop plans for future growth and expansion.

“We are excited to mark this milestone that celebrates the development of high-quality maritime education and simulation training for South African and SADC region seafarers and offshore workers,” says Pieter Coetzer, Commercial Manager at SAMTRA.

The Simon’s Town-based training centre has seen steady growth in student enrolment since 2018 and, apart from 2020 during the pandemic, has continued to increase student numbers year-on-year.

Coetzer believes that several factors are influencing this growth. “There is a growing demand for seafarers from South Africa and Africa sparked by the COVID pandemic as well as the ongoing situation in Eastern Europe and the Middle East,” he explains.

Coetzer adds that SAMTRA’s course offerings have also evolved to meet the needs of the industry, and they now provide long term STCW programmes for officer training as well as training of super yacht crew.

“Our aim has also been to answer the call from national government and meet the objectives of the Comprehensive Maritime Transport Policy (CMTP) by facilitating growth within the Maritime Education, Training and Development sector,” he says. “Our 26 public universities can only absorb around 25% of matriculants, leaving a gap for TVET and the private sector to play a major role in providing tertiary education.”

SAMTRA has taken the decision to collaborate with industry on future developments and is due to host a public consultation workshop later this month.

“We feel there is merit in asking our customers and all stakeholders what their needs and long-term requirements are. It is prudent to rather consult upfront and pursue sustainable development goals,” he says. “We do not want to end up with a white elephant impeding national growth objectives.”

SAMTRA is considering additional floor space to accommodate more classrooms, a research lab, student accommodation, storage, training pool and more. In addition to the plans to expand the physical footprint of the centre, SAMTRA has set its sights on specific academic goals that include seeing their tertiary programmes registered with the Department of Higher Education.

“By engaging with maritime stakeholders, we are aiming to identify and fill the gaps in the market” says Coetzer as he lists some of these ambitions.

“We want to support the country’s maritime ambitions as set out in the CMTP as well as support the growth of the shipping sector and the Africa Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050 goals. As a continent we need to use the opportunities posed by the African Continental Free Trade Agreement as they relate to transport and maritime tourism,” he says emphasising the need to eliminate youth unemployment.

Industry is invited to attend the public information session on 16 October 2024 (10:00) at the CPUT Granger Bay Campus. Please RSVP via the portal advertised on social media.