Page 80 - Maritime Book 1

PROVIDING HOPE AND INSPIRATION
CAPTAIN SABELO MDLALOSE HARBOUR MASTER: PORT OF DURBAN
"I am where I am because of you."
Growing up in rural KwaNongoma, Captain Mdlalose had never set his eyes on the sea. When he matriculated he wanted to be a doctor and though he was accepted at MEDUNSA, his family couldn’t afford the fees. He was working at the local dry cleaners when one of his school teachers called to tell him she had seen bursaries advertised for Maritime Studies.
“I applied, but I didn’t get a bursary. My father sponsored the registration fee and I took out
a study loan, but never managed to nish my Maritime Studies as I had a health challenge. I then worked in construction for a year and in 1998 was fortunate to be employed by Portnet, who sent me back to Tech to nish my studies.
I then did my sea-time, passed my orals and worked in the Port of Richards Bay as a tug master. I was still keen to keep learning, so I started a management course before going on the accelerated marine pilot training in Rotterdam.
Later he was among the rst group to study for the International Harbour Masters Diploma. “When I look back, as much as I enjoy being a Harbour Master, my best job was being a marine pilot for ve years where I had the time of my life. I loved the challenge. Even if you are bringing
in the same vessel, the harbour conditions, the weather, the crew, the cargo and the vessel’s performance will be different.
“You have to think on your feet, stay calm, respond appropriately, enrol people to help you and communicate well with the tug masters you rely on to help guide the vessel safely into port.”
Captain Mdlalose believes he is blessed to be where he is today and ascribes his career success to embracing every opportunity that came his way, appreciating the people around him and pushing himself to give of his best.
Not surprisingly, he is an inspiration and role model for people in his community, from the petrol attendant at the local garage, who has seen him acquire more gold stripes on his uniform, to his peers – including a recently quali ed engineer, who reminded Captain Mdlalose that he had told him to take Maths and Science at school and says: “I am where I am because of you”.
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