Lawhill School turns out first Master Mariner

Marking a significant milestone for Cape Town’s Lawhill Maritime Centre, the first internationally qualified Master Mariner has written his name in history. Thirteen years after joining the programme – and at the age of 28 – Tobela Gqabu has earned his Master’s Certificate of Competency or Class 1 maritime qualification from the school. The SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) employee joined the Lawhill programme – that has been supported and funded by Safmarine for 18 years – in 1999, without ever having seen an actual ship. “Safmarine decided to partner with the South African Department of Education and the Simon’s Town School in establishing the Lawhill Maritime Studies programme,” said Safmarine CEO, Grant Daly. “This achievement is an example of how mutually beneficial this partnership between business and education has been,” he said. The centre, which prepares young South Africans for employment by providing them with maritime-related skills and knowledge while they are still at school, is offered as part of the national senior certificate curriculum. Commenting on Gqabu’s achievement, Brian Ingpen, head of the Centre, said: “Throughout his school career at Lawhill he showed a strong determination and commitment to succeed and the fact that he has achieved his Master’s Ticket 10 years after matriculating is further proof of that determination.” While Gqabu is currently working ashore as a ship’s surveyor for Samsa, he plans to return to sea when the right opportunity comes along, ideally to take command of a product tanker. “I have aspired to command a ship for so many years and now that I have my Master’s Ticket, it’s important that I turn that aspiration into reality,” he said. INSERT The centre provides young South Africans with maritime-related skills and knowledge while they are still at school. CAPTION Tobela Gqabu and Brian Ingpen, head of the Lawhill Maritime Centre … determination to succeed.