Pretoria - Transport Minister Sibusiso Ndebele has called on South Africans to participate more in the maritime industry, which offers international opportunities for travel, training and work.
Ndebele made the call following World Maritime Day celebrations in East London on Tuesday.
The commemoration targeted previously disadvantaged communities and was being used to create awareness regarding careers and investment opportunities in the maritime industry.
The Council of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) invited Member States to celebrate World Maritime Day between 20 and 24 September 2010. South Africa is vice-chair of the IMO.
Ndebele said South Africa required "a battery" of specialised maritime and harbour engineering skills which were not only in short supply in the country but in the world.
"The IMO has indicated that there are some 200 000 jobs available internationally in the maritime sector. This means that we can act locally but make a global impact in this sector," he said.
"South Africa is uniquely positioned to make such a contribution due to the fact that we are largely dependent for our economic survival as a nation on the effectiveness of world trade and sustainability of marine life," the minister said.
