The South African Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (SAIMENA) held their 2022 AGM on 6 April 2022.
This was conducted in an online meeting format, which we have now become accustomed too, and also has the great advantage that SAIMENA members from Cape Town, Durban, other areas in South Africa and worldwide can actively participate.
The new SAIMENA National Council was duly elected and the other statutory business of running a Voluntary Organisation dedicated to furthering the collection interests of professional maritime engineering was concluded. The new Council comprises:
President, Kevin Watson, R Adm(JG) ret
Junior Vice President, Graham Dreyden, Mr, Cape Town Branch Chair
Past President, Louis Gontier, Mr
Branch Chairperson, Rennie Govender, Mr, Durban Branch Chair
Honorary Secretary, Mike Roberts, Mr, Education liaison
Honorary Treasurer, Cobus Visser, R Adm(JG) ret
Grading Committee Rep, Willem Deyzel, Mr
Grading Committee Rep, Org Nieuwoudt, Mr, and TOJ
Fellow, Iain Armstrong, Mr, TOJ Editor
Fellow, David Fiddler, Mr, Education / SAMSA liaison
Fellow, Neill Leeming, Mr
Fellow, Keith Mackie, Mr
Member, Derek Rabie, Mr
Non-Corporate, Jacques de Klerk, Lt
Non-Corporate, Gerard Mohamed, Mr
Non-Corporate, Samantha Montes, Ms
Our congratulations to the SAIMENA members who have stepped forward to guide the institution for the next year.
Two of matters of general interest that were discussed are:
– the rolling out of a bursary funding scheme for students studying Marine Engineering and Naval Architecture, focused on 2nd and 3rd year students who are enrolled at our local faculties of higher learning offering these courses, namely CPUT, DUT and NMU.
– the presentation by SAIMENA of a series of short courses on maritime engineering and related disciplines via online lectures aimed mainly at students who are based at our local marine engineering faculties, but it will be open to all. SAIMENA has recognised that in South Africa there remains a level of ignorance of what Maritime Engineering encompasses and what the numerous areas of specialisation are, both ashore and at sea. These courses will focus on bridging that gap, as well as offering mentorship/experience to students; to supplement our marine engineering faculties which continue to have difficulty in sourcing lecturers who have practical experience and knowledge in an extremely wide range of maritime engineering disciplines, and preparing for STCW engineering certification.
These lectures will be delivered by SAIMENA members who are recognised as experts/knowledgeable in their fields of maritime engineering. Initially the lectures will be delivered free to all interested individuals, but may later become free for SAIMENA members with a nominal fee for non-members.
