DAMEN Shipyards Cape Town (DSCT) underscored its commitment to security, job creation, and skills development in South Africa’s maritime sector at the 2024 Oceans Economy Conference and Expo.
The premier two-day industry event held in Cape Town on May 22nd and 23rd, brought together key figures from the commercial and defence maritime industries to discuss logistics, shipping, offshore oil and gas, fisheries, tourism, and maritime defence and security.
The event serves as the ultimate platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies, innovative solutions, and the latest advancements in the oceans economy sector.
As a key supplier to the South African Navy, DSCT has delivered three state-of-the-art Multi-Mission Inshore Patrol Vessels (MMIPV’s) under Project Biro.
Sefale Montsi, director of DSCT and HR and transformation manager, Eva Moloi, delivered impactful speeches at the event, highlighting the advancements and opportunities within Project Biro and the broader skills development and sustainable job creation at DSCT. “I was honoured to speak at the 2024 Oceans Economy Conference and Expo,” says Montsi, “where I had the opportunity to share DSCT’s significant advancements through Project Biro and showcase how our work has impacted South Africa’s maritime industry and helped to drive sustainable economic growth.”
The three MMIPV’s built by DSCT in partnership with local suppliers, are designed to enhance South Africa’s maritime security capabilities. The first MMIPV, SAS King Sekhukhune, was delivered in May 2022, followed by SAS King Shaka in October 2023, and the third vessel in March 2024.
“DSCT remains dedicated to enhancing South Africa’s maritime security and fostering sustainable economic growth through continued partnerships and local industry support,” says Montsi. “Project Biro has always been more than a maritime initiative; it has made significant contributions to job creation and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa.”
Since 2018 the project has supported over 1 000 direct jobs and engaged nearly 4 000 individuals indirectly with a total of 848 local vendors having contributed to the manufacture of the MMIPV’s.
DSCT’s commitment to skills development was evident in Moloi’s presentation on their Training Centre which was established to address the skills gap in South Africa’s maritime industry. Offering apprenticeships and partnerships with educational institutions, DSCT provides comprehensive training in various trades, including welding, boiler making, electrical work, and more. These initiatives ensure a steady supply of skilled workers to sustain and grow South Africa’s shipbuilding capabilities.
“Speaking at the conference was an opportunity to highlight the critical importance of skills development in the maritime industry,” says Moloi. “At Damen Shipyards Cape Town, we are dedicated to bridging the skills gap by providing comprehensive training programmes that not only empower individuals but also strengthen the overall capacity of our local shipbuilding sector.”
DSCT’s participation in the 2024 Oceans Economy Conference and Expo highlighted the company’s substantial contributions to South Africa’s maritime security, economic growth, and skills development through Project Biro and its robust training programmes.
“This event underscored the vital role of collaboration and innovation in driving the future of the oceans economy and we were honoured to take part,” Moloi concludes.
