Page 56 - Maritime Book 1

PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
CAPTAIN NARESH SEWNATH SENIOR MANAGER: PILOTAGE AND VTS
" I fe great pride standing on the bridge, taking responsibility for the navigation of ships carrying huge volumes of cargo. "
CaptainNareshSewnathgrewupinDurban
as part of a large family including six brothers and a sister. Their father passed away when four of the brothers were still at school. Having experienced hard times made him determined to achieve success and make his mother proud.
Portnet’s bursary scheme for cadets was his entry ticket to a promising maritime career. He quali ed in 1993 as a Deck Of cer and sailed as the 3rd Of cer for Safmarine and Unicorn.
“I felt great pride standing on the bridge, taking responsibility for the navigation of ships carrying huge volumes of cargo.
“At the time, TNPA had a shortage of tug masters so I joined the Port of Durban where I worked under various tug masters to learn the role.
I worked as a tug master for four years and undertook critical jobs such as towing, salvage and dry docking – which included managing crew, budgeting and lay-up plans for the tugs.”
The accelerated marine pilot training programme in Rotterdam was a great opportunity for Captain Sewnath and other tug masters to progress to the next level.
“The training programme included three months in Rotterdam where we learnt to pilot vessels using a simulator. They also had a small ship that we used to learn about ship handling, before
we returned to South Africa to get practical experience.
"Whenwemet withresistance from the older generation of marine pilots and harbour masters,we persevered, never le ing anything deter us from achieving our goals."
“As previously disadvantaged individuals, we were proud to be selected. We made it work for ourselves, the organisation, and those that followed in our footsteps, little knowing how far we would go in changing the course of South Africa’s maritime history.”
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