The SA Agulhas is South Africa’s ice-strengthened polar research vessel. The ship recently completed a five day voyage with an all woman crew and on her arrival in Port Elizabeth Harbor was guided into port by a woman harbor pilot. As part of National Water Week, the SA Agulhas sailed from Cape Town to Durban with an all-female crew recruited from various shipping companies.
All-women SA crew sails into history books
Marine pilot Xoliswa Bekiswa, originally from Mthatha but now from Port Elizabeth, is one of 34 women on the SA Maritime Safety Authority’s (Samsa) five-day voyage along the South African coastline with an all-women crew.
The Agulhas departed Cape Town on Monday and made an eight-hour stopover in Port Elizabeth yesterday. It left for Durban where it is expected to arrive tomorrow.
According to Samsa chief executive Tsietsi Mokhele, the voyage is a world first, encompassing female captain, engineers and harbour receiving staff, and is intended to showcase gender transformation in the industry.
While the Agulhas was in Port Elizabeth, school pupils were taken for tours and shown how large vessels are operated and managed.
Bekiswa, who has been piloting ships into and out of the Port Elizabeth Harbour since 2008, said she entered the industry after attending the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown, where she saw a display by Transnet’s National Ports Authority (NPA).
Well done !! This is outstanding and congratulations to you all. Also to the Government of South Africa to be able to see the ‘big picture’. One can only imagine the joy for Nelson Mandela to live to see this happening. Every success with your careers ladies and
Good Watch.
It was a great journey indeed, i feel honoured to be one of the women who were there and thank you Capt. Boucher for your words.
Belated Congrats! I was radio officer on the maiden voyage of SA Agulhas. Things have certainly changed since then.