The South African Marine Safety Authority (SAMSA) welcomed its Russian counterpart in grand style at the Durban harbour on Monday. Marine leaders fromboth Russia and South Africagathered under a temporary marquee at the harbour to officially welcome the Pallada, a Russian marine cadets’ ship. The Russian ship arrived on Saturday at the Durban harbour after two months of sailing the Pacific Ocean. The Pallada’s arrival was timed to coincide with the 5th BRICS Summit taking place in Durban on the 26-27 of March. “The whole event is set to drive discussions on how we can partner at an institutional level, we know both countries are part of BRICS and partner for economic purposes.Now we to work on sharing marine skills,” says SAMSA Chief Operating Officer, Sobantu Tilayi. Sobayi says part of the plans on the table is to establish a cadet exchange programme with Russian authorities. He added that their Russian counterparts are good at fishing and that’s a skill South Africa would particularly like to learn from the Russiansa.
The whole event is set to drive discussions on how we can partner at an institutional level, we know both countries are part of BRICS and partner for economic purposes
Sobayi also emphasised the importance of exhibiting both countries’ cultures. “There is a need to show case each other’s cultures, we train our cadets to work everywhere in the world, so they need to be open to other cultures while taking pride in their own culture.” South African Cadet training Officer, Lungani Simamane, says the ceremony also served to give the South African marine cadets an opportunity to meet other cadets and share knowledge and the importance of discipline. “It takes great discipline for a person to stay in a confined space for four months in the ocean.” Simammane also urged young people to apply for SAMSA learneships. “We are taking young people that have never been on the sea and show them that they can build careers on the ocean.” The visiting Russians were entertained by a number of traditional Zulu dancers and singers. The South African Defence Force (SANDF) also sent its KwaZulu-Natal band members to welcome the visitors with the African sounds of drums and trumpets. Not to be outdone the Russians also put on a display of some of their traditions and they also brought their all-time favourite drink, vodka, as a gift for their South African counterparts.
– By Siphosethu Stuurman
