Captain Knowledge Bengu, commander of South Africa's ice-breaking vessel, the SA Agulhas II, has graduated with a Master of Commerce in Maritime Studies.
Bengu was part of the South African maritime team that played a key role in finding the 107-year-old shipwreck Endurance in the Antarctic waters last year.
"It was a very challenging experience to study while working at sea,” he said.
“I missed lots of classes and deadlines. The outbreak of Covid-19 made it even harder for me as it resulted in extended tours of duty following quarantine regulations of various countries.”
Taking all these challenges in his stride, his demanding career included command of various ships and complex operations with limited internet access that made it difficult for him to conduct his research.
However, Bengu refused to give up on his studies and his research.
His research, titled "Customs Procedures for South African Ships that Voyage to and from South African Islands", aims to provide solutions to the Department of Fisheries and Forestry, especially on how to engage with stakeholders to exempt the SA Agulhas II from conducting customs and immigration procedures as a foreign-going vessel.
"The Department owns the SA Agulhas II and manages Marion Island, which is a Maritime Protected Area.
“Marion Island is an extension of South Africa; however, customs and immigration still require the Department to conduct port clearance procedures the same way as the vessel proceeding to a foreign destination," Bengu said.
"This research, combined with the degree's coursework, gave me a deeper understanding of maritime business economics, which will provide me the opportunity to become a maritime specialist and to offer advice to shipping companies,” Bengu said.
“The goal now is to write articles addressing challenges in the maritime spaces.”
Having navigated ships through the toughest oceans in the world, it is surprising to learn that Bengu, who hails from Durban's Umlazi Township, grew up working as a bricklayer with his uncle and that medicine was his initial career choice.
"My first choice was becoming a doctor; however, my next-door neighbour, who worked as a seaman for a shipping company, used to bring me maritime magazines and pamphlets and convinced me otherwise.
“I worked with my uncle as his assistant in bricklaying from a very young age, which manifested an interest in property. So, if I am not on board a ship, you will find me renovating one of my properties," he said.
While Bengu admits that juggling a career, studies, and personal life is a lot of strain and requires sacrifices – not only for him but also for his family – his career has taught him to be humble, courageous, resilient, and passionate.
"I sacrificed a lot on my rest on and off the ship; my family took a huge strain and had to outsource most of my handy jobs around the house. It's not fun juggling work and studying at the prime of your career. Not everything can be done at once, and I had to set up realistic goals across all areas of my life," he said.
