Another excellent achievement is that no disabling injuries has been recorded since 2009. This amounts to 1 360 injury free days.
Due to the PetroSA Project Ikwezi, the Port has increased the vessels it handled by more than 33%; 92 vessels were dealt with, compared to the targeted 64 for 2012.
At an awards ceremony on Friday, 30 November, Port Manager Tandi Lebakeng said these achievements were the result of excellent team work and a relationship of trust between suppliers, customers and other stakeholders. She added that the management of the Port of Mossel Bay has taken note of the negative sentiment the strict access control to the harbour has created and that an investigation is under way to see how access control can be relaxed without compromising the security needs of a working port.
Mr Brinton Spies, the Transnet general manager of human resources, and Lebakeng congratulated and thanked the employees for their hard and dedicated work. Spies lauded them for handling so many vessels. "Your achievement is putting Mossel Bay squarely on the map of the international sea faring world; this is the place fleets will want to come to, knowing it is a safe and effective port to call at."
He called on employees to keep up their vigilance when it comes to safety and praised them for the exemplary safety record they uphold.
Spies also challenged the Port management and employees to ensure that Mossel Bay residents feel they have easy access to the harbour even though it remains a working port.
Several long service awards were also handed over. Mr Quenton Brink, the Port Captain, was awarded a 15-year long service award, as well as Mr John Minnie (45 years), Richard Taylor (30 years), Willem Henny Pozyn (43 years), Billy (W) Jewell (42) and Desmond Cairns (43 years). Mr Minnie and Mr Jewell retired on Friday, 30 November, after an illustrious career in service of Transnet.
Colleagues Quenton Brink and Enrico Bester lauded the two gentlemen, saying their dedicated service to the Port of Mossel Bay will be sorely missed. Brink said Marine Service Mossel Bay will never be the same again, and rued the fact that his regular cup of tea in the morning will have to go without the usual jolly conversation he had become accustomed to.
Spies also alluded to the Portnet Market Demand Strategy and its benefits with special mention of the infrastructure projects that lead to job creation countrywide. The TNPA has invested in excess of R700 billion in capital investments in the last seven years. In addition, another R300 billion is earmarked by TNPA for capital projects at the eight ports over the next seven years.
Lebakeng concluded that the value proposition at the Port of Mossel Bay is improving and that the employees play a pivotal role in the success achieved. She applauded the families of all of the Port of Mossel Bay employees for their understanding and support over the past year. She also emphasized the continued need for safety and implored her collegues to take special care over the Festive season.
Captain Quiton Brink and Port Manager Thandi Lebakeng with the recipients of long service awards at an awards dinner, held on Friday, 30 November, at Fancourt in George.
ARTICLE: NICKEY LE ROUX, MOSSEL BAY ADVERTISER JOURNALIST
