Industry seniors set up networking club

MORE THAN 60 of South Africa's maritime industry seniors attended the inaugural lunch of The TBN Club at Bryanston Country Club recently. The TBN Club was the brainchild of Roderick Eaton of ISS-Voigt and "Wharf Rat" Paul Clarke. It will meet every second month to provide a networking opportunity for industry players and their customers to swop news, stay in touch and discuss reciprocal business. Each lunch will also feature a guest speaker. "If shipping companies have colleagues up from the coast it is an ideal forum for them to socialise with their inland counterparts," says Eaton. The guest speaker at last Thursday's lunch was Maureen Rowland-Aitken of the Mission to Seafarers. Though the Mission does not enjoy a high profile in Gauteng, it is very active in South African ports as well as 300 other world harbours, making over 75 000 ship visits per annum. While the organisation is an "international ecumenical industrial mission", Rowland-Aitken said that it was entirely down-to-earth in the way it assists mariners. "The Mission gives sailors on shore leave a home from home where they can make a phone to family, play snooker, read a book or watch a video, use the internet or enjoy a meal all at low cost. In more serious cases where seafarers may be left stranded or in difficulty, the Mission may provide practical advice, guidance and representation. For further information on the TBN Club contact Rod Eaton at (011)235 0083.