SOUTH AFRICA: Members of the fishing sector were especially vocal at an engagement with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) this week in Cape Town, pressing for the Authority to prioritise surveying and certification processes that are currently impacting the industry’s capacity to operate effectively.

SOUTH AFRICA: The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is facing the industry in a series of engagements where stakeholders are being encouraged to express their concerns and table the immediate challenges. Based on input at the session in Cape Town, most of the critical issues centre around service delivery.

SOUTH AFRICA: Reporting more than 20% gains in volumes at their Matola Terminal, Grindrod Limited describes delivery over the last financial year as “exceptional”.

SOUTH AFRICA: The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has confirmed their intention to uphold the appeals submitted by the small-scale fishing cooperatives in the traditional linefish and West Coast Rock Lobster sector in an effort to restore confidence in the appeals process as well as strengthen the relationship between the fishing community and government.

KENYA: The Kenya Navy concluded leg three of EX-JITEGEMEE XXVII and Operation BAHARI MOJA 03 with a strategic port visit to Diego Suarez, Madagascar, highlighting their growing ambitions to contribute to the shared security efforts across the Western Indian Ocean.

SOUTH AFRICA: A team of young South African doctors is harnessing rapid advances in communications technology to deliver professional medical care to fishing crews at sea, while helping vessel operators avoid operational downtime and costly diversions to port.

SOUTH AFRICA: The South African Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA) has received accreditation from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) for its Mates and Masters Academic Programme (STCW Code Table A-II/2), enabling senior deck officers to obtain internationally recognised management level certification.

SOUTH AFRICA: An initiative to address critical knowledge deficits in the fishing sector has been launched that will fund the development of an accredited course for improving expertise amongst local maritime professionals through the delivery of abbreviated naval architecture training.