The 2010 World Maritime Day celebrations will be held in East London on 21 September 2010, Eastern Cape MEC for Transport, Safety and Liaison, Ghishma Barry announced last night.
MEC Barry was delivering a keynote address at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) gala dinner held in Port Elizabeth last night.
"I would like to call upon all Maritime Accident Investigators' International Forum (MAIIF) members to diarise this important event, which is going to be celebrated in our Province by all South Africans," she said.
"As we speak we are busy with the second phase of the development of our integrated provincial maritime plan, which is expected for completion in September 2010 and will guide our maritime activities and the integration with other modes of transport that will serve to benefit the province socially and economically.
"I would like to promise SAMSA that we are going to complete this process on time to ensure that we launch this plan when the province hosts the World Maritime Day," she added.
MEC Barry further briefed the maritime stakeholders about the department's future plans that seek to improve safety and transform the sector.
This includes:
* Reaching out to the communities to raise awareness amongst the youth, introducing them to the field of maritime as a carrier path through our Human Resource Development programme
* Holding career awareness campaigns in 60 secondary schools targeting learners from grade 10, 11 and 12
* Offering bursaries to Eastern Cape youth for courses in maritime and shipment studies and port engineering studies
* Holding maritime safety awareness campaigns in various municipalities along the coast.
"In the last financial year, our Maritime unit conducted career awareness campaigns in 48 secondary schools in the province and the target was grade 12 learners. Our goal is to have a number of the Eastern Cape youth as seafarers or even Captains in a few years to come," said MEC Barry.
Issued by: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
9 June 2010
Source: Department of Transport, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
(http://www.ectransport.gov.za/)
