Training academy keeps costs down

Price-competitive option for overseas seafarers Ray Smuts ANOTHER FIRST for Africa, notably South Africa, is the commissioning of a state of the art maritime training academy that will further prepare young men and women of all nationalities for careers at sea. Known as the South African Maritime Training Academy (Samtra), the US$3 million facility at Simon’s Town outside Cape Town, is a gift from the Danish A.P. Moller Group - owner of Safmarine and Maersk Sealand - to South Africa. Samtra’s marketing and services executive Deanna Collins points to the many advantages of simulation training, both to employees and ship owners, which at this spanking new facility comes at a cost well below that of similar training institutions in other parts of the world. “We aim to enhance the skills of seafarers from all disciplines in the broader maritime industry including but not limited to merchant marine, military and fishing, through advanced maritime technical training courses.” Andy MacLennan Samtra’s general manager, says the two-tier marketing strategy is aimed firstly at Southern African countries and then further afield due to this country’s relatively small maritime industry. Capacity for each course is up to eight students. The cost for deck courses is R2000 per student per day and for reefer and engineering courses R1 500 per student per day. MacLennan reports keen interest but expects last week’s first ‘open day’ to be a catalyst to set the ball rolling. l Samtra is to be officially opened by President Thabo Mbeki on September 9.