Port open for
youth
Open
house
Celebrating the Port
of Richards Bay’s
first Open Day are
(back) Carol Naicker,
Harbour Master -
Ravi Naicker, ZCB
President - Garth
McCartney, Mayoress
- Marga Moffatt,
Unizul Science
Centre exchange
student - Cristy
Burne, NPA General
Manager - Anisha
Jones, Unizul
Science Centre
exchange student -
Graham Walker, Port
Manager - Thami
Ntshingila,
uMhlathuze City
Mayor - Denny
Moffatt, Unizul
Science Centre -
Terry Hutter (front)
Unizul Science
Centre Head - Derek
Fish and National
Ports Authority PRO
- Maria Rankin
THE National
Ports Authority is
investing heavily in
the future of the
country’s youth.
Speaking at a
cocktail function on
Wednesday to mark
Marine Week and
Richards Bay’s first
Port Open Day,
guests were told
that training for
careers in the
maritime industry
was a priority.
The first port in
the country to
introduce the Open
Day concept to
replace the old Port
Festivals, the event
was designed to
introduce students
to the marine
environment at the
bustling working
harbour.
Hundreds of school
children enjoyed
their visit, which
included exhibits as
well as shows by the
Unizul Science
Centre.
‘We use this
opportunity to
interface with the
public, especially
the youth, as they
observe the various
port activities,’
said Port Manager
Thami Ntshingila.
‘There is a dire
need to improve
maritime skills and
encourage them to
study the various
sciences required in
the maritime
industry.’
His words were
endorsed by NPA
General Manager,
Anisha Jones, who
said a maritime
career was open to
girls as well as
boys.
‘Previously our
mothers warned us
that harbours were
not places for nice
young ladies,’
quipped Jones.
‘We use this chance
to give you
knowledge of another
way of life and
another career
opportunity, bearing
in mind that
education sets the
standard and level
of any operation.’
The NPA is an
ongoing sponsor of
the Unizul Science
Centre as well as
the Maritime Studies
programme at Tisand
Technical High
School in eSikhawini.
As part of its
commitment to their
training, the NPA
also arranged for
six Tisand pupils to
experience a trip to
Durban on board a
merchant ship.
