Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective

Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective

by | Jan 17, 2024 | SAJMET, SAJMET V2

Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective

Authors: Malek Pourzanjani, Hashali Hamukuaya and Tanaka Mugabe

ISSN: 2790-783X
Affiliations: Head of Naval Education, Marine Learning Alliance (MLA) College; South African International Maritime Institute; Honorary Research Fellow at the University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Law, South African International Maritime Institute; Researcher, South African International Maritime Institute; Nelson Mandela University
Source: South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 71-82
https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a5

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Pourzanjani, M, Hamukuaya H and Mugabe, T
Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective
South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 71-82 https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a5

Abstract

Maritime education and training (MET) institutions have experienced major changes in their structure, and provision of services over the past four decades. These changes have come about partly due to national and international requirements concerning the seafarers’ standards of competence and partly due to financial regimes under which these institutions are funded, forcing them to diversify into other areas and activities, such as consultancy, research, shore-based training programmes and mergers with larger Institutions. Today’s seafarer is also markedly different to those who went to sea some 30 years ago. The differences in seafarers’ attitude and approach to a seafaring career manifest in a desire to spend less time at sea and treat this as a steppingstone in their working life career. This is true for developed nations, and is more and more becoming the norm, even for the developing countries. With above in mind, one can argue that MET institutions have an excellent opportunity to provide a range of programmes and bitesize courses that can be undertaken by seafarers to prepare them for the next stage of their career. Distance learning and web-based programmes are now commonplace in many institutions, including MET institutions, especially after the recent pandemic and long periods of lockdown. This paper will discuss some of the issues involved in web-based and distance learning, and use a leading global provider of distance learning education to highlight some of the possible opportunities for South Africa as a case study.

Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective

The rise of digitalisation and automation in the shipping industry and their impacts on training and system safety

by | Jan 17, 2024 | SAJMET, SAJMET V2

The rise of digitalisation and automation in the shipping industry and their impacts on training and system safety

Authors: Scott N MacKinnon, Reto Weber and Monica Lundh

ISSN: 2790-783X
Affiliations: Professor in Human Factors, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Human Factors Research Group, Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden; Simulator Manager/Lecturer, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Human Factors Research Group, Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden; Professor in Human Factors, Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Human Factors Research Group, Chalmers University, Gothenburg, Sweden
Source: South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 83-96
https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a6

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MacKinnon, S N, Weber R and Lundh, M
The rise of digitalisation and automation in the shipping industry and their impacts on training and system safety
South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 83-96 https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a6

Abstract

The ubiquitous application of digitalisation and automation within the maritime shipping industry will create disruptions that will have profound effects on how work is performed in the industry. The practice of safe navigation will require an evolution and subsequent evolvement of how operators and technologies interact in a complex sociotechnical system if a better understanding of system safety is to be achieved. Predictions of how actors and agents in the same workspace will emerge. This paper focuses on the current levels of automation prevalent in the navigation sector, a futuristic prediction and foresight of challenges related to the emergence of technologies, automation and artificial intelligence, and the competencies required related to the training of future seafarers.

Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective

Maritime education and training – responding to the changing role of the seafarer

by | Jan 17, 2024 | SAJMET, SAJMET V2

Maritime education and training – responding to the changing role of the seafarer

Author: Tebogo A Mojafi

ISSN: 2790-783X
Affiliations: South African Maritime Safety Authority
Source: South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 97-120
https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a7

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Mojafi, T A
Maritime education and training – responding to the changing role of the seafarer
South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 97-120 https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a7

Abstract

Maritime transport carries more than two-thirds of the world’s total cargo and plays an important role in the sustainable development of the global economy. As a derivate of trade, the shipping industry allows citizens of the world to trade and people to gain meaningful employment. According to the 2021 BIMCO ICS Seafarer Workforce Report, there are about 74 000 vessels in the world merchant fleet, employing a total of 1.9 million seafarers (UNCTAD, 2021; Tang and Zhang, 2021). Abidin and Ismail sum the relationship between seafarer and ships by indicating that seafarers play a critical role in facilitating trade, whereas shipping is a critical element in the promotion of international cooperation. Like other industries, shipping is also impacted by changing developments around the world. The dawn of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) brings about challenges concerning how the industry ensures that tomorrow’s seafarers have the necessary skills to ensure efficiency of the maritime industry. With the changing technologies, Emad, Enshaei and Ghosh caution against simply focusing on the development of technology and forgetting about getting the seafarers ready for the future maritime landscape. Over time, the role of the seafarer has changed, requiring the shipping industry to devise strategies aimed at developing seafarer skills and competencies. Acomi and Acomi found that maritime and offshore oil and gas graduates lacked some of the expected competencies including soft skills and industry experience. Whereas, the BIMCO Workforce Report6 estimates seafarer shortages, there are still many seafarers who are still battling to find employment. How should the country manage its seafarer development programme to ensure South African seafarer relevance into the future? This paper explores how the maritime industry should respond to the changing role of the seafarer. It establishes the challenges faced by South African seafarers regarding placement and explores the role of education and training in addressing the competitiveness of the seafarers.

Learning opportunities for further career development and enhancement of seagoing professionals: A South African perspective

Challenges in International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Compliance: A case study of the South African Maritime Education and Training System

by | Jan 17, 2024 | SAJMET, SAJMET V2

Challenges in International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Compliance: A case study of the South African Maritime Education and Training System

Author: Yamkela Nhleko

ISSN: 2790-783X
Affiliations: ESD Coordinator, EThekwini Maritime Cluster
Source: South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 121-131
https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a8

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Nhleko, Y
Challenges in International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Compliance: A case study of the South African Maritime Education and Training System
South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 2 Issue 1, p. 121-131 https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2023/i1a8

Abstract

 Maritime education and training (MET) has been instrumental in the development of seafarers in South Africa and internationally. As a result, different MET systems are used to not only produce eligible maritime professionals but to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) 1978, as amended in Manila. Some of the challenges in MET prove not to be exclusive but common to some maritime countries. As such, this study aims to explore South Africa’s unique approach to MET rather than the conventional approach of having higher education institutions dedicated specifically to maritime education and maritime training. This has created the need to analyse how the current MET system delivers training in compliance with the minimum standards of the convention. This paper therefore analyses how the STCW Convention and Code is embedded in the MET system in South Africa, and identifies the existing challenges in meeting the requirements of the convention, as well as identifying opportunities for improvement. The identification of challenges and opportunities is investigated by means of desktop research, reviewing existing literature, a document analyses on the academic and technical (vocational) framework, and a review of existing practice and benchmarking this against international practice standards (STCW). This paper proposes a framework that could contribute to the improvement of the current MET system in line with the requirements of the STCW 1978 as amended.

Overview of the Skills Required for Marine Protection and Ocean Governance

by | Apr 17, 2022 | SAJMET, SAJMET V1

Overview of the Skills Required for Marine Protection and Ocean Governance

Author Patrick Vrancken

ISSN: 2790-783X
Affiliations: Incumbent of the SARChI Chair in the Law of the Sea and Development in Africa and chair of the Phakisa MPG Lab’s capacity-building working group
Source: South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 1 Issue 1, p. 1-8
https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2022/i1a1

Abstract

This paper provides an overview of the skills required for marine protection  and ocean governance by focusing on five aspects on a regional basis, namely  maritime knowledge, maritime awareness, maritime safety, maritime security and  maritime integrity. It is concluded that a focus on the development and retention of  the skills required in these regards is necessary for the state to optimally govern the  South African maritime domain in the interests of all South Africans, to ensure  that South Africa protects its lawful interests on the high seas and to enable  South Africa to make its full contribution to the integrated governance of the African maritime domain. 

Human Sciences Research Council’s Labour Market Intelligence Partnership Study and Lessons for the Maritime Sector – A Labour Market Theoretical Perspective

by | Apr 17, 2022 | SAJMET, SAJMET V1

Human Sciences Research Council’s Labour Market Intelligence Partnership Study and Lessons for the Maritime Sector – A Labour Market Theoretical Perspective

Author Mokong S Mapadimeng

ISSN: 2790-783X
Affiliations: Extraordinary Associate Professor, Northwest University
Source: South African Journal of Maritime Education and Training, Volume 1 Issue 1, p. 9-20
https://doi.org/10.47348/SAJMET/2022/i1a2

Abstract

To best understand the changing nature of labour markets and how they function,  it is necessary to base our analysis on both the empirical evidence and appropriate  theoretical frameworks. This is particularly so as theory is about real-life situations  and enhances our understanding of how the world around us works and changes.  Theory also guides inquiry into social questions for a better understanding of  how they can be resolved. With this in mind, this paper examines the findings  of the Human Sciences Research Council’s (HSRC) Labour Market Intelligence  Partnership (LMIP) studies, and specifically the 2016 report on Skills Supply and  Demand in South Africa. This it does through the deployment of the contemporary  labour market theories. In doing so, lessons for the maritime sector, which is  presently seeking to implement its skills planning and employment creation plans,  are discussed. The paper finds that while the LMIP lays foundation for future  skills planning, its analysis is, however, not explicitly and adequately anchored into  contemporary labour market theories. This is a major shortcoming as these theories  alert us to issues that LMIP is not adequately giving attention to, i.e., the socially  structured and segmented nature of the labour markets under the competitive  pressures of globalisation and technological changes.