Lagos — A steady stream of Angolan seafarers are passing through South African training centres and institutions as the country puts its weight behind a programme to create a pool of merchant navy seafarers for both its local off-shore and international shipping industries.

A local company that is closely involved with the programme said the Angolan example is a good indication of what can be achieved in a partnership between the public and private sectors to create jobs in industries where citizens of Southern Africa have had limited access in the past.

Training executive at Marine Crew Services (MCS), Deanna Collins said the Angolan government together with shipping companies involved in the off-shore industry provide strong support for the marine training courses offered by the various expert service providers in South Africa.

"Young Angolans are attracted to the fast growing off-shore oil industry and both the public and private sectors realize that these new entrants to the merchant navy need the required skills and are providing the funding to do something about it.

"This is an excellent example for all countries in Africa and we have no doubt that Angola will see the results not only in increased employment for its people in the off-shore industry, but also in their placement in the shipping fleets of the world."

Ms Collins said a number of merchant marine training providers in South Africa are offering training for the Angolans, with some students coming down from Angola to attend statutory short courses in marine safety, while a large number of students are enrolled in two-year diploma courses at tertiary educational institutions to achieve their academic qualifications before embarking on a period of practical experience at sea as either engineering of navigational cadets.

MCS is a black empowered company which was founded three years ago with the specific goal of helping to increase the number of South Africans who have access to careers in the maritime world.

"We have had limited success, not because we do not have hundreds of people knocking on our doors, or because of unwillingness of shipping partners to support this venture. The real reason is that despite initial promises the South African government has not joined the initiative in a similar fashion as the Angolans have," said Jan Rabie, MCS' co-founder.

The Cape Town- based company has on a number of occasions argued that it is quite realistic to set a target of 25,000 seafaring jobs, or 10 percent of the total number of seafarers involved in the South African trade.

"This is more conservative than what would be required in terms of the Maritime Charter's aim that 25,1 percent of South African cargo be carried on South African flagged vessels by 2014. If this aim is achieved and the South African flagged vessels employ South African crews as is envisaged, this would amount to about 86,000 jobs with wages of $ 129m or R774m paid every month," said Rabie.

However, Collins said MCS would be pleased if the South African government would set more moderate targets to try and train 2500 new merchant navy seafarers over the next eight years.

"Without funding assistance for training students will not be able to enter this lucrative field of employment and a programme such as is being proposed by us would require R247-million. The end result will be a turn-out of 500 fully certificated officers and ratings from the third year onwards, thereafter escalating by 500 per year over the subsequent five year period."

She pointed out that Marine Crew Services has already established the international linkages to make a success of such a programme. "Through our partnership with the Sanko Shipping Line of Japan we now have 13 cadets and emerging officers sailing on vessels around the world who are in the process of accumulating the required experimental training before being able to take their examinations to qualify as officers. This programme is very successful and it is such a pity that we cannot expand it to include more of the youth in our country because of a lack of funding."

Collins says while there appears to be a lack of interest or possibly a lack of understanding of the potential that exists for employment opportunities for merchant navy seafarers on the part of the South African government, the Angolans are reaping the benefit of the excellent training and tertiary educational facilities that South Africa can offer.

"In the process, we, and the other companies involved in maritime training are making a huge contribution to the aims of NEPAD, which is ultimately to alleviate poverty in Africa."