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SALVATORE SARNO

aptain Salvatore Sarno, the chairman owners,” he said, “but we knew how to make the Captain Sarno faced obstacles as the leader of
of Mediterranean Shipping Company most of them.” Shosholoza, the state-of-the-art yacht that was
(MSC) in South Africa, was born in a small built in South Africa. Funding was limited, but he
Cvillage in southern Italy. “Everybody calls A major milestone for MSC came when BMW South persevered, rallying support from friends, shipping
me Captain Sarno because I was a captain,” he says. Africa awarded them a contract, provided they industry contacts, and even Archbishop Desmond
Reflecting on his youth, Captain Sarno said that as could offer a weekly service between Europe and Tutu, who became one of Shosholoza’s biggest
child, he dreamed of becoming a ship’s captain, South Africa. Captain Sarno, aged 40, took on the supporters. He also become close friends with Thabo
though the mountains surrounding his village challenge, relocating to South Africa with a two-year Mbeki and Andrew Mlangeni who recognised in
obscured the sea. During school holidays, he would commitment to establish MSC’s presence. Those Shosholoza the true spirit of the new South Africa.
climb to the top of the mountains. “I used to sit there, two years transformed into a much longer tenure, as Reflecting on his achievements, Captain Sarno says,
looking at that little triangle of blue and dreaming of he built MSC South Africa into the country’s largest that while the Shosholoza team did not win the
when I’d be working at sea,” he recalled. shipping organisation with the help of Sandra, who American Cup, the team went on to win the most
managed sixteen container depots, and his son important awards of the competition.
In 1965, Captain Sarno began his journey in the Rosario, who eventually became the managing
Italian Navy. However, he found the rigid structure director, overseeing more than 2,000 employees. In 2018, together with his son Rosario, Captain Sarno
stifling and left after two years to join the merchant Captain Sarno insisted on maintaining a personal founded the Shosholoza Academy, where thousands
navy, where he worked on tankers as a cadet. “That’s touch in client relations, avoiding call centres to of young South Africans have been trained to work on
the life I was looking for,” he said. By the age of 26, ensure customers interacted with staff they trusted. MSC’s passenger ships, contributing to employment
he achieved his dream of becoming a ship’s captain, and skill-building within the country.
one of the youngest in the Italian merchant fleet. UNITED IN PURPOSE
A SIGN OF HOPE
A SIGNIFICANT TURN In 1992, Captain Sarno co-founded the Container
Lines Operator Forum (CLOF) with the late Dave Captain Sarno’s contributions were acknowledged
His career took a significant turn when he met Rennies, forming a network of top shipping exec- when he was awarded an Italian Republic Knight-
Gianluigi Aponte, who, alongside his wife Rafaela, utives who advised Transnet’s leaders on optimising hood by President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi in 2005.
had recently founded MSC. Aponte offered Captain port and container terminal operations. Six years Four years later, in 2009, he was appointed as an
Sarno a position aboard a 4,000-tonne vessel, one of later, in 1998, he was appointed President of the Official of the Knighthood Order by President
MSC’s first ships, and together they set out to establish South African Branch of the Institute of Chartered Giorgio Napolitano.
MSC’s inaugural shipping line around Africa. In those Shipbrokers.
early days, they operated with limited resources, Today, Captain Sarno looks towards the future of
often carrying cargo other lines had refused. Captain Captain Sarno’s success led him to unexpected South Africa’s ports with optimism. He believes the
Sarno recalls, “We succeeded because of our passion. meetings, including an encounter with President nation has the right leaders to drive change and
That energy motivated the crew, and we showed Nelson Mandela. Inspired by Mandela’s vision restore the country’s infrastructure, pointing to
them what was possible.” for South Africa, Captain Sarno collaborated recent progress as a sign of hope. Captain Sarno’s
with the South African Navy in 1999 to establish involvement in discussions with government
At the age of 30, Captain Sarno left the sea to join Izivunguvungu, the MSC Foundation, an innovative officials reflects his commitment to helping South
Aponte in Brussels, assisting in the management of youth initiative located in Simon’s Town to support Africa reach its potential.
MSC’s growing fleet, which then comprised only five disadvantaged South Africans.
ships. Together, they dreamed of making MSC the Captain Sarno’s ambitions have always been largely
world’s largest shipping company. Captain Sarno In the mid-2000s, another opportunity arose when self-driven. “No one ever told me I’d be a captain. It
moved with his family – his wife Sandra and his two South Africa prepared for its ten-year democracy was just always inside me.” However, Captain Sarno’s
sons – into a small office where each team member anniversary. Captain Sarno spearheaded a campaign love for cinema, sparked by watching films with his
took on multiple roles, with spouses contributing as to create a South African team for the America’s Cup, father who worked as a projectionist, also shaped his
well. MSC’s reputation grew, and soon, the company the world’s most prestigious sailing competition. perspective. “Movies were my window to the world,”
relocated to Geneva to enhance its professional With support from President Mandela and a diverse he says, noting how this early exposure broadened
image. Despite periods of financial hardship and team of sailors, Captain Sarno‘s campaign gained his knowledge compared to his peers.
cycles of near-bankruptcy, MSC persevered, acquiring international attention. “The message was clear: Today, Captain Sarno continues to serve as MSC’s
second-hand ships and using them to maximum after ten years of democracy, South Africa could chairman, advocating for South Africa’s development
advantage. “People called us the second-hand ship compete on a global stage, united in purpose.” and maintaining a vision for its future as a world leader.
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