The Moses Kotane Institute (MKI) in partnership with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) Faculty of Applied Sciences and the Department of Maritime Studies hosted a lecture series that focused on Maritime and Technology. The overall aim of the seminar series is to develop links between academics and stakeholders including students, activists, private and public sector. It will also enable MKI to explore new research from a wide range of academia which will shed light on strategies that can be adopted to overcome challenges that are within the maritime sector.

In attendance at the event were Professor Suren Singh, Executive Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences, Colleen Jacka, editor of Maritime Review Africa, Mr Leon Govender-Head: Maritime Studies, DUT staff, students, representatives from the Moses Kotane Institute and external stakeholders.

Prof Singh welcomed guests saying that the overall aim of the seminar series was to develop links between academics and stakeholders including students, activists, private and public sector, and look at strategies that can be adopted to overcome challenges that are within the maritime sector. He also introduced the keynote speaker, Colleen Jacka, editor of Maritime Review Africa.

Jacka has been reporting on the maritime industry for over two decades. She settled on the maritime industry and has since received recognition for her work in this domain from the National Department of Transport when she received the Maritime Journalist of the Year Award in 2004.

The launch of Maritime Review in 2002 allowed her to focus all of her endeavours on the maritime industry as a partner in the publishing company, More Maximum Media. Since then she has worked at providing a number of platforms to recognise the work being undertaken in the maritime sectors including the establishment of the South African Maritime Industry Awards, which recognises excellence across the broad spectrum of the industry.

Speaking at the event, Jacka spoke of the maritime industry and the successes and challenges of Operation Phakisa.

She gave an overview of Operation Phakisa which was formed in a bid to grow the blue economy, involving various sectors such as business, labour, academia, civil society and government.

“South Africa has 3,924 kilometres of the coast which have untapped economic potential. Operation Phakisa brought government, industry, education and civil society role-players together to collaborate in accelerating the growth of the blue economy, in five focus areas which are in maritime transport, manufacturing, off-shore oil and gas exploration, aquaculture, and marine protection and governance,” she said.
However, she spoke of the challenges that Operation Phakisa faced which included sustainable jobs that needed to be implemented in time. She did add that all was not doom and gloom, saying that from Operation Phakisa, developments, policies were active such as the Comprehensive Maritime and Transport Policy-DoT, Draft Marine Spatial Development Bill, Draft Merchant Shipping Act 2018, South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), Aquaculture development, Youth in Maritime Program (SAMSA) and the Project Hotel and Project Biro.
Jaka said there were many business opportunities and that was something to look forward to and be excited about in terms of Operation Phakisa.

Pictured: DUT staff, Colleen Jacka, editor of Maritime Review Africa, representatives from the Moses Kotane Institute and external stakeholder, at the event.

Waheeda Peters