On training trip

The South African ice-strengthened training ship and former polar research vessel, SA Agulhas, set sail from Cape Town yesterday carrying a record 48 trainees to measure radio signal strengths along the country’s coastline.

The two-week voyage along the west and east coasts of South Africa is a partnership between the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa), Telkom and the department of transport. The SA Agulhas is Samsa’s training vessel.

The trainees, accompanied by four training officers, are part of Samsa’s national cadetship programme who need experience at sea to complete their course.

“Without time at sea, the cadets cannot graduate and it is very hard for them to get berths on ships, so this is an important maritime youth development and employment initiative for both Samsa, its partners in the maritime sector and the country,” said Sobantu Tilayi, acting CEO of Samsa.

The SA Agulhas will return from its 2 850 nautical mile coastal voyage on October 30. It was previously used to service SA’s three National Antarctic Programme research bases. – ANA