As Transnet accelerates its skills development drive to meet its ambitious growth objectives the first group of trainees graduated from the company’s Maritime School of Excellence.

The group of 83 trainees qualified as Cargo Operators (38), Helicopter Pilots (17), Marine Pilots (20) and engineers (7).  The majority of the graduates have been absorbed into Transnet operations.

This is the first time Transnet has taken ownership of training and employing its own aviation pilots. The helicopter pilots, who have achieved both private and commercial licences, will be flying marine pilots to the vessels. Marine pilots guide vessels into the ports. This is a service provided by Transnet National Ports Authority in Durban and Richards Bay.

Malusi Gigaba, Public Enterprises Minister, speaking at the graduation ceremony said, “Increasing access to training and skills development opportunities is an economic imperative for us. We expect Transnet to train beyond its business requirements in support of government initiatives to address the challenges of skills shortage and mismatch which we have identified as the main impediments to job creation and economic growth.”

The Transnet Maritime School of Excellence, which is a merger of the School of Ports and the School of Port Operations, is the first of its kind in South Africa. It has campuses in the port cities of Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Richards Bay and covers training in the following disciplines of marine and ports related vocations:

•             Marine Operations

•             Terminal Operations

•             Port Management

•             Port engineering

The programmes that are delivered by the Maritime School of Excellence have been identified in line with Transnet’s Market Demand Strategy and the business imperatives of Transnet clients.

Transnet, which has spent about R2,5 billion in training over the last two years, amalgamated its different schools under the Transnet Academy.  The company committed over R7 billion for training as part of the Market Demand Strategy over the next seven years.

This is intended to ensure an integrated approach to training delivery across the company, while at the same time benefitting from economies of scale through shared services in areas like Human Resources and Procurement.

In addition to the Maritime School of Excellence, Transnet has consolidated its  training in campuses throughout South Africa under:

•             School of Rail

•             School of Engineering

•             School of Security

•             School of Leadership and Business Training