Happy New Year and
to all our readers our very best wishes for
2006.
We start off the year with a look at broad based
black economic empowerment and bring you an
interview with Manana Nhlanhla, a lady whom I am
certain will be making waves in the maritime
industry in future. Who's she you might ask?
Well, sitting alongside her business partner,
Sithembisa Mthethwa (remember him, of Dudula
Shipping Company), she's the new chairperson of
Smit Amandla Marine.
There's a lot
of pitfalls to watch out for in the day to day
operation of a business - some of the legal
eagles and accounting specialists point these
out in this issue. And you cannot expect to have
a successful business without training your
staff so we include a few success stories.
There is plenty
of social news to catch up on. The silly season
brought with it numerous invitations for
occasions which I attended and enjoyed. Also a
big thank you too to those companies whose
events I was unable to attend for various
reasons, namely Atlas Fire Security Technology
in Saldanha Bay, Trans-Tec in Cape Town which
celebrated its 10th year of successful trading
in South Africa, and the Society of Master
Mariners which held its annual Merchant Navy
memorial service in November.
For some, the
festive season has meant a holiday, but for
others it's the busiest time in the shipping
industry and there have been numerous port
calls. We also took a sneak peak at the two tugs
being completed by FarOcean Marine and at the
huge crane barge which is undergoing repair in
Sturrock dry dock in Cape Town. There are also
some developments in the ship repair industry
despite the Competition Commission's refusal to
allow Dormac to take over Globe Engineering.
In conclusion,
I was stranded in Table Bay on Boxing Day when
the single engine of the Telstar I was aboard
gave up without giving notice. We had been out
to watch the Volvo Ocean Race In Port race and
were on the way back when the services of the
NSRI were needed. Had it not been for the NSRI
Hout Bay vessel and its crew which towed us back
to the Oceana Power Boat Club we would most
certainly have been blown out towards Robben
Island. Your assistance was much appreciated,
thank you.
Editor
Cover Story
Procurement
company, Craig Energy Services, sources "rope,
soap and dope" from local suppliers for offshore
oil and gas platforms. Last year the Cape
Town-based company, a division of the
international family-owned Craig Group, was
awarded a four year contract by the US oil
giant, Chevron Texaco, to support Sonangol, the
local content partner to Cabinda Gulf Oil
Company in Angola. Visit www.craig-group.com for
more information about the Group's nine
specialist divisions which represent the bigger
picture of products and services supplied to
worldwide oil and gas markets. |
