Page 24 - Maritime Book 1

TRANSFORMING MARITIME TRAINING AND RESOURCES
Personnel development has been at the centre of TNPA’s journey of transforming its marine department and the maritime sector at large. TNPA began its transformation journey in 1999 when it selected twelve candidates for a training programme in Rotterdam that would deliver the marine pilots and harbour masters of the future.
Fast-tracked training was introduced to
address a critical shortage of marine pilots in South Africa at the time, as well as the need for transformation under a democratic government. Up until then the only way to obtain a rst-class ticket involved years in the classroom and at sea, understudying quali ed personnel for a number of years with no documented practical assessments.
TNPA recognised it had candidates who had relevant practical experience as tug masters manoeuvring vessels in and out of our ports and that this would have prepared them well for their development into marine pilots.
The Class of 99 who undertook the pilot programme in Rotterdam, came from previously disadvantaged backgrounds and were the ground breakers who would lead the transformation of TNPA’s marine services.
Developed in collaboration with South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the programme saw tug masters completing a bridging course and undertaking simulator training as well as practical training at sea on a training vessel, helping them to qualify as marine pilots in a shorter period than the traditional rst class ticket.
The Cla of 99 - a group of resourceful, intelligent, fearle leaders, from disadvantaged backgrounds who grasped every opportunity to develop their maritime careers - would go further than they ever dreamed po ible at the time.
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