Following an extensive review process, South Africa has been identified as a high potential crew sourcing destination for the AP Moller - Maersk (Liner) fleet, which comprises 280 fully owned and operated container vessels, employing 12 500 seafarers.
South African cadets from the National Seafarer Development Programme will be considered for placement with Maersk, and it is expected that the first cadets will be joining Maersk vessels from Q2 2023.
“The importance of having geographically diverse pools of seafarers was highlighted during the pandemic,” says Niels Bruus head of marine HR at Maersk.
“South Africa is a natural choice due to its maritime legacy and the number of high-quality South African seafarers currently employed in Maersk’s global container vessel fleet, many of whom hold senior positions in our crews.”
The country is considered a high potential crew sourcing area for several reasons, says Bruus: the country’s proven track record in providing quality ships officers, its favourable geographical location, the existing maritime infrastructure, vast population, and English language capabilities. South Africa’s socio-demographic profile and cost-of-living index also lends itself to offshore employment.”
The South African Maritime Training Academy (Samtra) was established in 2003 in Simons Town by the AP Moller- Maersk Foundation. Samtra offers a range of simulation-based skills development courses and will manage the Maersk South Africa Cadet Programme.
Samtra is a provider of talent for the South African National Seafarer Development Programme, which is sponsored by the South African Government via the National Skills Fund and the South African International Maritime Institute.
The STS Lawhill Maritime Centre (www.lawhill.org) offers three specialist maritime subjects (nautical science, maritime economics and marine science), as well as boarding facilities for the grade 10-12 learners. Maersk has been an anchor sponsor at Lawhill over the last 28 years and through the strong foundation provided, it is a natural feeder to the Samtra cadet programmes.
