More than officers, SA needs the personnel for a maritime economy

Each year on June 25, the world observes the Day of the Seafarer. In South Africa, commemorative events in Cape Town, Durban and Gqeberha echoed the global call under the 2025 theme “My Harassment-Free Ship”.

Spearheaded by the International Maritime Organisation, the campaign highlights the urgent need to create safe and respectful working environments at sea, a response to the troubling rise in reported harassment cases across the maritime sector.

But I wish to spotlight another pressing issue — one that could fundamentally transform the future of many South Africans who dream of a life at sea.

For more than two decades, South Africa has prioritised the training of maritime officers — future masters, chief engineers, and navigators. The vision was bold: to create a homegrown class of leaders for the global merchant fleet. But the reality has been sobering. Too many of our officer cadets, after years of academic and practical training, remain unemployed and ashore.

The reason is no longer a mystery. Shipping companies are reluctant to take on “green officers” who lack sea-time and practical experience. The few berths that do exist are highly competitive, dominated by countries with long-standing systems for placing seafarers into jobs.

We are producing officers with nowhere to go.

But this doesn’t mean the maritime dream is dead for South African youth. In fact, it suggests that we may be looking too high, too soon — and overlooking the foundation upon which all seafaring nations are built.

South Africa is failing to tap into the largest and most employable segment of the global maritime workforce: Ratings.

Ratings are the essential crew — the deckhands, engine-room assistants, oilers, cooks — who keep the ship operational. Without them, the ship doesn't sail.  Globally, Ratings make up more than 70% of all seafarers.

Shipping companies are consistently on the lookout for competent, English-speaking, STCW-compliant (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) Ratings. South Africa fits this profile. So why aren’t we flooding the global labour market with skilled Ratings?

There are at least three compelling reasons why it’s time to change course:

• First, Ratings training is faster, cheaper, and more accessible than officer training. Young people can be trained and certified for sea service within months — not years. For the thousands of unemployed matriculants in our coastal provinces — especially in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape — this could be a game-changing opportunity.
• Second, the global labour market is demand-driven. Shipping lines are not looking for cadets without sea-time. They want Ratings with practical skills. South Africa is well-positioned to supply this demand — if we build the right pipeline.
• Third, this is more than just a maritime issue — it’s a development issue. South Africa faces a ticking time bomb of youth unemployment, particularly in rural and marginalised communities. The blue economy has long been seen as a potential engine for inclusive growth.

Training Ratings offers a scalable, cost-effective pathway for young people to enter an industry that pays in dollars, builds discipline, and provides international exposure.

This is not a call to abandon officer training. Officers are indispensable. But no nation becomes a maritime powerhouse by training officers alone. A sustainable maritime strategy builds from the bottom up

What’s required now is a strategic policy pivot — one that recognises Ratings training as a national priority. This must be done in collaboration with international crewing agencies and employers to ensure that our trainees meet the exacting standards of the global market.

Yes, Ratings work is physically demanding — and still predominantly male — occupation. But thanks to global labour standards, seafarers benefit from decent pay, tax-free income, and all living costs covered while at sea. We’ve seen how targeted community-based programmes can thrive, especially in the cruise industry.

As a country, we need to formally declare Ratings training a maritime development priority. Agencies like the Transport Education and Training Authority and the National Skills Fund must redirect funding towards TVET colleges and maritime academies offering STCW-compliant Ratings courses.

Incentives should be introduced to encourage local ship operators to onboard Ratings. Most importantly, we must actively pursue labour export agreements with reputable foreign crewing companies.

To be clear, this is not a call to abandon officer training. Officers are indispensable. But no nation becomes a maritime powerhouse by training officers alone. A sustainable maritime strategy builds from the bottom up.

We are blessed with 3,000km of coastline and an untapped wealth of human potential. If we are serious about building a working, inclusive maritime economy, we must get back to basics. Let’s train more Ratings — and let our youth sail into careers, not into waiting rooms of despair.

• Ntuli is chief director for maritime policy and legislation at the department of transport. He writes in his personal capacity.