In a partnership set to break new ground, the eThekwini Maritime Cluster has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Africa Maritime Training and Employment Pool (AMTEP).

This groundbreaking partnership aims to advance and support the maritime sector in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), with a focus on African-owned ships, maritime training, and employment opportunities in the province and across the continent. It will also enhance the Cluster’s visibility around key drivers of maritime employment in KZN, strengthen policy support, foster economic growth, build supportive networks, and ensure the long-term sustainability of maritime training and employment initiatives.

During the signing of the strategic partnership, AMTEP announced plans to host its second annual conference, the AMTEP Conference 2027, in Durban in April 2027. The date and venue are yet to be confirmed.

AMTEP Director of Business Development, Mr Siphosenkosi Mthembu, said the upcoming conference promises to be a pivotal event for the maritime sector, focusing on the theme African-Owned and Operated Merchant Ships: A Vital Investment for Strengthening Maritime Training and Employment in Africa.

“This conference theme is based on the Own Vessel Fleet (OVF) Model, one of the key strategic concepts presented in the AMTEP Master Plan, which suggests that the sustainable development of Africa’s maritime training and employment depends on investment in an African-owned merchant fleet,” said Mthembu.