The Namibian Ports Authority yesterday conferred certificates of competency to 33 of its staff members who successfully completed the first ever Ship to Shore Cranes training in Namibia.
The training was conducted by Liehberr Africa who emerged as the successful trainer after a comprehensive selection process. The training which is normally conducted over a period of two years commenced in April this year until August 2019.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Mr Lukas Sturn, General Manager of Liehberr Africa, mentioned that the trainees underwent intensive sessions on the Liehberr state of the art simulator giving the trainees a practical and realistic feeling of operating the cranes.
Namport’s first ever female STS Crane operator Ms Priscila Damases was amongst the recipients of the certificates of competencies which were awarded. Namport continues to invest in its female staff members. Testimony to this, two of the entity’s female staff members (Ms Leena Kagolo and Ms Hileni Amakali) completed their post graduate studies in Malmö, Sweden after receiving scholarships to pursue their Masters of Science Affairs in Maritime Education and Training and Port Management & Qualification respectively.
Acting CEO, Mr Kavin Harry, said that due to the faith in its own workforce “the management team made a deliberate decision to invest N$9 million and train its own staff members as opposed to getting operators from elsewhere”.
The trainees were subjected to theoretical as well as practical training to ensure the highest levels of competency. The Port Authority aims to increase the current 26 moves per hour which are carried out by the STS Cranes to 30 moves per hour in the very near future as it works towards becoming Africa’s express hub to International Markets.
In addition to being equipped with new skills the graduates will be mentored and coached to ensure transfer of the newly acquired skills to others in the not too distant future.
SOURCE: Namport
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