AT the helm of Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA’s) 4200 cubic metre dredger Isandlwana which, with a price tag of around R1 billion is the Authority’s most expensive asset, is South Africa’s first black woman dredge master Londiwe Ngcobo.
Ngcobo is one of many TNPA women in mission critical positions who daily prove their mettle, in South Africa’s demanding maritime industry, tackling the high seas and bad weather day and night to ensure the country’s ports run smoothly.
Women fill 35 per cent of mission critical jobs within the country’s port system, ranging from harbour masters, deputy harbour masters, to chief marine engineers and marine engineers, marine pilots, dredge masters, coxswains, tug masters, aviation technicians and helicopter pilots.
Government’s transformation, skills development and employment agendas embodied in the New Growth Path and National Growth Plan, and Transnet National Ports Authority’s own transformation agenda, are the driving force in the changing face of the country’s ports.
Also assisting to transform the face of the Authority is the drive to ensure that the intake of trainees and bursary recipients for marine studies, which will lead to mission critical positions, are women.
Dredging is critical to ensuring that the country’s ports remain open and safe for shipping. Nompumelelo Chamane, who is one of seven women cadets with TNPA’s Dredging Services, is the first to qualify as a marine engineer. She is currently on board the Crane. Of the remaining cadets, one is studying and five are completing their sea time after which they will take their final steps to attain their marine tickets, and bolster the Dredging Services female engineering crew contingent.
Helicopters are an essential tool for the marine services used at the Port of Durban to transport marine pilots to and from ships. Of the helicopter pilot cadets that graduated earlier this year, eight were women. Aviation engineers are a key support function for the helicopters and of the eight trainee aviation engineers four are women.
While this programme will enable TNPA to service their helicopters in-house, these engineers are also obtaining skills that are in demand world-wide.
