Walvis Bay company uses SA training course

THE MARITIME Industry Training Board Cargo Handling sector (MITB-CH) has approved MITB Accredited Training Courses for Namibia, and a Walvis Bay stevedoring company recently completed its first course.
Brad Jacklin, executive officer for MITB-CH told FTW the organisation was delighted to have been approached by Erundu Stevedoring of Walvis Bay for an accredited course. He said that the course had been designed and operated by South African Stevedores, which is an established stevedore group dating back to the early 1900s with branches at all South African ports.
Erundu Stevedoring, which commenced operations in the Namibian port in August 1998, selected a Stevedore Foreman's course for its first training exercise. According to Jacklin this was specially formulated for those already practising the age-old stevedoring trade to adopt practices of safety, with the productive use of manpower, equipment and machinery.
We are delighted at the impact that our accredited training programme is having in South Africa and across the borders within the SADC region, he told FTW. The need for training across our borders was evident at the recent meeting of the Maritime Inland Waterways Transport Committee, which was coincidentally held in Walvis Bay earlier in 1998.
Simon Cummings, general manager of Walvis Bay Cold Storage, which trades as Erundu Stevedoring, said his management was extremely proud to be able to run the first MITB Accredited course in Namibia. Further training sessions are being arranged for early 1999, he said.
By Terry Hutson