South Africa’s shipping sector took another step towards gender diversity in the industry, supporting women involvement, as the country dispatched an all-women cadet and training officers’ team on a three-month journey to Antarctica, playing a crucial role in women’s training and education.
The team consists of 22 women – 2 officers and 20 young female cadets – who began their journey from the port of Cape town towards Mauritius, where they will be joined by Indian scientists for three months into the Indian Ocean and Antarctica.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) are the operators and owners of the country’s training vessel called “SA Agulhas” along with the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) – the country’s agency for cadet training – were the ones making the journey possible by out hiring the vessel to the Indian National Centre for Antarctic Ocean Research (ICAOR).
Moreover, the scientists will implement their research in a timeframe of two months, until the end of February, when 18 deck and two engine cadets will receive extensive training and earn crucial sea time to advance them through their studies as future mariners. Also, two of the cadets will qualify for the Officer on Watch exam after receiving the training needed, whereas additional cadets will experience this voyage as the first time away from home and first training opportunity.
SAMSA and SAIMI commented that this training is the first “adventure” aiming to improve gender parity in the shipping industry.
SAMSA Acting CEO Mr Sobantu Tilayi commented
It is important that we use every opportunity we get to open up the maritime industry to all and this voyage is proof that South Africa is on-board with the international drive to empower women and is committed to do away with the notion that the maritime industry is a male dominated industry.
Mr Ian Calvert, executive head of SAMSA’s Marine Special Services, who was on hand to see off the all female training crew added that given that shipping still is a male-dominant industry, it is of great importance that women are supported in the sector, “to achieve a representation that is in keeping with 21st century expectations.”
