PH Embassy, South African Maritime Safety Authority Explore Partnership to Ensure Welfare of Filipino Seafarers
Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Noralyn Jubaira Baja with South African Maritime Safety Authority Capt. Tobela Gqabu (2nd from left), Ship Surveyor Mbuso Goba (3rd from left) and Deputy Principal Officer Rodrego Thompson (2nd from right). (Pretoria PE photo)
PRETORIA 07 September 2022 — As part of the Embassy’s mandate to promote the welfare of Filipino seafarers abroad, Philippine Ambassador to South Africa Noralyn Jubaira Baja met with officials of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the chief South African government agency tasked to ensure safety of life and property at sea, and maintains operations at all major South African ports, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on 26 August 2022.
During the meeting, SAMSA’s Capt. Tobela Gqabu provided Ambassador Baja with updates on the recent welfare case of eighteen Filipino fishermen at Durban Port. He confirmed how all procedures were followed which allowed four of the Filipinos to fly back to the Philippines and the rest to sail as scheduled. He, likewise, assured the Embassy of SAMSA’s implementation of international maritime safety and environment protection standards that ensure the protection of all fishermen and seafarers, regardless of nationality, who are entering South Africa.
Ambassador Baja, for her part, conveyed the Embassy’s strong desire to nurture its positive partnership with SAMSA and assured the Embassy’s readiness to provide support and assistance that would further enhance the provision of services to Filipino seafarers in South Africa.
The networking meeting took place on the eve of the Philippines’ annual observance of the Maritime Archipelagic and Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) every month of September, which seeks to highlight the importance of the Philippine maritime industry in the global shipping industry.
Also joining the meeting were SAMSA Deputy Principal Officer Rodrego Thompson, Ship Surveyor Mbuso Goba. Assistance-to-Nationals Officer Paul Vincent Fodra and Cultural Officer and Community Affairs Officer Vivian Barrera. END
For more information, visit https://www.pretoriape.dfa.gov.ph or https://facebook.com/PHLinSouthAfrica/