New event gains industry support

SA Shipping Gala debut a success

SOUTH AFRICA: The inaugural SA Shipping Gala held at the end of November in Durban has been widely lauded as a success following the induction of the first two members to the South African Shipping Hall of Fame as hundreds of industry stakeholders stepped out in their finest to celebrate the local maritime community.

With just under 500 guests from clearing and forwarding, the maritime legal fraternity, logistics companies, academia, agents and maritime associations – a cross-section of the industry was represented at the lavish affair that included a band, dancers, a DJ and even some fire dancers.

The evening was navigated by Nokuzola Nkowane in her inimitable style and guests were officially welcomed by one of the co-hosts of the event, the EThekwini Maritime Cluster’s (EMC) Chairperson, Emmanuel Ntshangase.

Recognising maritime stalwarts

A key highlight of the evening was the launch of the Shipping Hall of Fame that will see individual maritime stalwarts honoured at future events. The hosts used the inaugural SA Shipping Gala to honour Captain Salvatore Sarno and Prasheen Maharaj as the first inductees.

Taking the stage to present Captain Sarno with the honour, Peter Besnard, Chairperson of the South African Association of Ship Owners and Agents (SAASOA) noted the extent of Captain Sarno’s career within the industry.

“I have been asked to say a few words about the man, who during the past 40 years, has been at the forefront of our shipping industry,” he said highlighting how Sarno arrived in South Africa in 1987 to build a strong foundation from which the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) was able to reinforce its position as a global shipping company.

“He worked endlessly to create, with the help of his wife Sandra and son Rosario, the biggest shipping organisation in the country and is today still the chairman of MSC and continues to fight to see South Africa progress as a top shipping country in the world.”

Noting Sarno’s commitment to the sailing fraternity, Besnard described how he had established a South African team to challenge the field of the 2007 American World Cup. “They were among the best sailors in the world with a state-of-the-art yacht built in South Africa with a multiracial crew,” he said.

Although team did not win the American Cup, they walked away with several important awards from the event and established themselves as true African sailing legends.

After a brief video, Captain Sarno took to the stage appearing visibly emotional as he accepted the honour. Admitting that he had received a few awards over the years, he acknowledged that being chosen to enter the Shipping Hall of Fame was especially meaningful as it represented recognition by his peers in the shipping community.

“I consider South Africa as my own country. I have spent most of my life in this country, always on the frontline to improve the productivity of our port,” he told guests.

He went on to describe a meeting between him and President Nelson Mandela. “It was at a gala like this and the ex-CEO of Transnet, Mafika Mkhwanazi, brought me to meet the president.”

According to Sarno, Mkhwanazi told the president that he was a somebody very special and that he was providing support to the ports without needing to be paid.

“I was looking up into his eyes – because you know he is a tall man – and he put out his hand and said: Thank you, Captain, thank you. South Africa needs people like you. I will never forget his words,” he said adding that it was in that moment that he knew he would continue to do all he could to cooperate for the good of shipping sector.

Addressing the recent categorisation of the country’s ports within the world rankings, Sarno said that these rankings did not take into account the people within the South African shipping community. “They were wrong in my opinion because they were only considering the equipment. It is my dream before I finally retire to show them how wrong they are. My dream is to bring back the South Africa Container Terminal as the best in Africa with the cooperation of management and the cooperation of all of you. I have seen the Durban port sparkling with activity.”

Noting his age – he implored the industry to make sure it happens sooner than later.

Taking to the stage as the second inductee, Prasheen Maharaj saluted Captain Sarno’s contributions, noting that it was an honour to share the stage with someone of his calibre.

Admitting that he was initially sceptical about accepting the nomination to be included as one of the first inductees in the Shipping Hall of Fame, Maharaj said that as someone yet to reach 50, he felt that the best years in the industry were still ahead of him.

Reflecting on some of the achievements that Sandock Austral has made under his leadership, however, he says that there are many that he is proud of, including the establishment of the “largest apprenticeship, in-service, and internship programme in the marine engineering industry in South Africa”.

“We started this programme in 2008, and even in the years when we could ill-afford it, we kept it going,” he said emphasising the obligation the country has towards creating a future for its youth.   

“The reason I decided to accept the nomination is because I wanted to show the youth that it can be done, despite the odds being stacked against you. I wanted to show the youth that if a boy from the township with an unemployed father and a mother who was a cleaner can make it, so can they. Because they desperately need hope,” he said.

“And on the topic of the future, I must humbly submit that the only way this beloved shipping industry of ours is going to survive is if we all decide, as stakeholders in the maritime value chain, to work together in a cooperative and collaborative manner, with the singular aim of restoring our maritime industry back to its former glory.

“We really need to support each other and make whatever selfless sacrifices that need to be made, or else this industry will have no future. This country will have no future. And that is one of the main reasons we heeded the call to support a fun-filled event that brought together all the most important players in South Africa's shipping industry under one roof,” he said pointing to his company’s sponsorship of the evening.

Providing support

This year’s event also served to raise funds for the South African Police Education Trust which assists the children of the police officers to fund their education. With grand aims to raise R1 million for the fund, the KZN Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, was on hand to accept the cheque and to thank the industry for its support. 

Acknowledging their jurisdiction on land, the Commissioner also highlighted their involvement in enforcing the law on the ocean.

“We appreciate the gesture. It is going to support the children of our police officers who have died in the line of duty,” he said.

Taking the opportunity to close the evening and give thanks to the sponsors and event organisers, Durand Naidoo of Linsen Nambi and the Chair of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers of South Africa, said that the theme of the evening, Oceans of Opportunity, should remind the industry of its boundless potential. “We are grateful for the vision and collaboration that has brought us here and this event would not have been possible without the support of our generous sponsors.”

“To our platinum sponsor, Sandock Austral Shipyards, thank you for your exceptional commitment to empowering South Africa’s maritime sector. To our gold sponsor, MSC, and bronze sponsor, Linsen Nambi, your contributions reflect your dedication to the industry’s growth and sustainability. Your belief in the importance of events like this inspires us all.”

PHOTO: Speakers and sponsors cut the enormous cake to mark the official launch of the SA Shipping Gala. (Source: ICS LinkedIn Page).

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