The MOU with the Sea Ports Corporation (SPC) was signed in Kenya and brings the number of MoU’s signed with TNPA since 2013 to five.
Speaking on behalf of the SPC Director General Dr Jalal Eldin M A Shelia, the General Manager Silia Mohamed described the MOU signing as a proud and momentous occasion for Sudan. “We have been inspired by tangible results delivered by the MOU’s signed by TNPA with other authorities to date,” said Mohamed.
He pointed out that the technical aspects of the MOU are in line with best practice which included, amongst others, security, specialised marine skills and operational efficiencies. “I would urge others to join the queue in signing the MOU’s as the continent embarks on a long journey to fulfill the aims of 2050 maritime strategy to ensure that the continent is globally competitive by promoting trade and creating employment to eradicate poverty”, said Mohamed.
The Namport visit led by TNPA’s Acting Chief Executive Lauriette Modipane saw the respective authorities expand the areas of cooperation as set out in clause 2.10 of the MOU.
This clause looks at strategic areas of cooperation including the exchange of technical maritime expertise and capacity building; port development areas including port planning, infrastructure development and management and property investment; marine including lighthouse services, marine services and dredging.
The Namport MOU, the second of the four MOU’s signed to-date, has kicked-off cooperation in specialised training. So far five Namport berthing masters have been trained and six Skipper Port Operators are in training at the Transnet Maritime School of Excellence in Durban. From January to April 2015 additional Skipper Port Operators and Master Port Operators will be trained.
Other areas of cooperation that are to be fast tracked are commercial waterfront developments, infrastructure developments, the sharing of the Maputo model of providing dredging services to neighbouring ports, environmental advancements, the possibility of in-service training, skills transfer and an exchange programme in areas such as port operations and port management.