Terry Hutson
CADETS AT the SA Maritime School in Durban have been getting practical benefits from a training scheme that explores their talents on South African waters.
The school has devised a programme in conjunction with Gearbulk Shipping that ensures all its students experience practical sea time on board ships running along the South African coast.
Peter Fitt (Jnr), who also completed a programme with Sappi Exports and Gearbulk some ten years ago, approached Gearbulk whose ships operate a service from Durban to Richards Bay and onwards to Royal Portbury Dock in the UK. Gearbulk is the world's largest bulk carrier of forest products while South Africa rates as the fifth largest exporter of paper products.
The cadets join a ship in Durban and do a session on the bridge, helping to keeping watch and complete navigational exercises before entering Richards Bay, where they disembark before journeying back to Durban.
All students graduating from the school have to complete their allotted sea time during their matriculation year. Three students who benefited from full bursaries from Gearbulk this year say they hope to enter the maritime trade and become masters of their own ships in due course.
The SA Maritime School
is a non-profit organisation registered with
the Kwa-Zulu Education Department. Cadets complete a 3-year programme ending at matric level with maritime studies as a major. Bursaries are available from Grade 10.
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