Ray Smuts
HIS MIND is not quite made up but John Woodend, Cape Town's popular port captain, may follow his Port Elizabeth counterpart John Davies into retirement this year.
If he does indeed quit his 11th floor eyrie at Pornet House, it may not necessarily lead to a sedentary lifestyle but a rather more active one as he returns to sea again - as master of an oceangoing ship - heeding the call of 'Lord Jim' creator Joseph Conrad, who wrote 100 years ago:There is nothing more enticing than the life of the sea.
Woodend, at Cape Town's port helm since 1994, recently told this correspondent he had been offered a position by Mercy Ships which operates five vessels all around the world.
While making it clear that his mind was by no means made up, he said if he accepted the offer he assumed he might have to undertake one voyage as mate before taking over as master.
What about Mrs Woodend? I asked. She wll come with me, said he with a smile.
As to who might succeed Woodend, it is likely to be Saldanha Bay's affable port captain Eddie Bremner - unless the new powers-that-be deign otherwise - and for Saldanha, port captain-in-training Carl Otto.
Copyright Now Media (Pty) Ltd
No article may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor
To respond to this article send your email to joyo@nowmedia.co.za
