Morwe condemns lack of maritime training

The Port of Ngqura will not realise its potential unless it is supported by the logistics sector, shipping companies, local business, the municipality, regional authorities and tertiary institutions – all of which have a role to play in developing the port and its surroundings into a major hub over the next 10 to 15 years. That was the message from Transnet Port Terminals CEO Tau Morwe when he addressed a business briefing in Port Elizabeth last week. He was critical of universities and tertiary institutions around the country which had, so far, failed to introduce maritime courses. As a result, the planners for Ngqura had to be brought in from Hamburg. Skills development was one of the most important prerequisites, he stressed. “Ngqura requires different skills to the other ports.” A start had been made by raising the minimum educational requirements for operators in the port, but much more had to be done at all stages of the private and public sector logistics chains, he said.