It was an all-female production when the MSC Sola, the biggest container vessel to call at a South African port, arrived in South Africa last week. En route from the Far East, she was guided into the Port of Ngqura by Xoliswa Bekiswa. Bekiswa recently became the fourth black female marine pilot to obtain an open licence in South Africa, which allows her to help navigate vessels of any size and type into South African waters. In Durban the ship was guided in by fellow female marine pilot, Bongiwe Mbambo, one of the three women who last year made history as Africa’s first black, female marine pilots to obtain the open licence. Two tugs navigated by a team of all female tug masters escorted the vessel into port.
