Website launched to address critical marine officer shortage

IN THE face of an ongoing local and international shortage of marine officers, Smit Amandla Marine has moved proactively to heighten awareness among school leavers of career opportunities in the maritime industry. Phase one of its awareness campaign saw the launch of a website – www.careers-at-sea. co.za – which will serve as a resource for life orientation teachers, high school learners and others looking for specific career information about the maritime industry in general. It has been designed as a user-friendly, easy-to-navigate and ideafilled information tool. The site will be promoted to high schools nationally during the second half of this year and will be further supported in 2009 by a national poster campaign, also targeting high schools. While the shortage of marine officers has long been recognised, not much has been done to rectify it. According to Smit Amandla, in 2005 the shortage was estimated at 10 000, in 2008 the figure has more than trebled to 34 000 while the projected shortage for 2012 is 83 900.