Over the next eight years, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) aims to attract 300 shipping vessels to the SA register. According to an Engineering News report, these vessels would include some 60 national fleet vessels, 120 flag vessels and 120 coastal shipping tonnages. It is envisaged that this will create employment opportunities for at least 5 200 officers and 26 000 ratings. The potential multiplier effect to shore-based support services jobs works out at 8 to 10 jobs for each seafaring. This means a total of some 249 600 jobs in eight years, or 31 000 jobs a year. At present, SA is wholly dependent on foreign-registered and foreign-crewed vessels to facilitate its trade by sea, which represents a lost opportunity for South Africa. International trade contributes over 50% to the nation’s gross domestic product and 98% of this trade by volume is moved by sea.
Samsa aiming to attract 300 vessels to SA register
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