MEDIA STATEMENT: IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WORLD MARITIME HERITAGE SOCIETY FOUNDING COMMODORE AND PRESIDENT, CAPTAIN FREDERICK JAMES FRANCIS, DELIVERS THE MARITIME HERITAGE LECTURE AT THE 3RD MARITIME HERITAGE CONFERENCE, EXAMINING OUR SEAFARING AND SHIPPING HERITAGE: SURVIVAL, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES IN TIMES OF PANDEMIA

The Maritime Heritage Institute (MHI), in association with the Department of Public, Constitutional and International of the University of South Africa’s (UNISA) College of Law, the National Heritage Council (NHC) and the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) is hosting the 3rd yet another groundbreaking Maritime Heritage Conference in celebration of our National Heritage Day, Tourism Month and the World Maritime Day on 24th September 2021.

“This follows very successful inaugural and 2nd voyages of the Maritime Heritage Conference that have set to sail for this and many more to come in this long exploration to re-anchoring the African maritime heritage story”, says Mr Morakabe Seakhoa, Chief Executive Officer of the Maritime Heritage Institute

Mr Seakhoa said the Maritime Heritage Institute was very pleased “to welcome aboard the three partners in UNISA, NHC and SAIMI. The developing partnership is certainly good news as it advances the exciting work the MHI is doing, especially among the youth, to be involved in matters of maritime heritage in order to reap the benefits this industry has the potential of yielding, starting with this 3rd Maritime Heritage Conference”.

“In keeping with the theme of World Maritime Day 2021, being "Seafarers: At the Core of Shipping's Future", the 3rd Maritime Heritage Conference’s is “Our Seafaring and Shipping Heritage: Survival, Challenges and Opportunities In Times of Pandemia” and seeks to reflect on our maritime heritage and history which show the role of seafarers and ships in the development and sustaining of society, especially during pandemic crises”, continued Mr Seakhoa.

He said the MHI is delighted to announce that “the keynote speaker at this 3rd Maritime Heritage Conference is Captain Frederick James Francis, the founding Commodore & President of the World Maritime Heritage Society, delivering the Annual Maritime Heritage Lecture”.

An impressive array of other speakers include Commander Tsietsi Mokhele, Board Chairperson of the Maritime Heritage Institute; Ms Louisa Mabe, NHC’s Acting CEO; Mr Siqhamo Yamkela Ntola, Senior Lecturer at UNISA’s Law College’s Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law; SAIMI’s CEO, Mr Odwa Mtati; Prof Rosabelle (Rose) Boswell, Anthropologist and Poet, South African Research Chair in Ocean Cultures and Heritage at the Nelson Mandela University; Ms Tsepiso Taoana-Mashiloane, Acting CEO of the S.A Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA); Ms Jessica Davids, Specialist - Maritime Education and Training; Mr Patric Tariq Mellet, from the Asirawan Siam Healing House & SA-Thai Slave Heritage Reflection Centre and a councillor at the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA); and Ms Wendy Cooke, from the South African Sea Cadets - Vereeniging Unit.

The aims of the Maritime Heritage Conference, in celebrating the South African National Heritage Month, are to situate and advance the knowledge and engagement of our maritime heritage and future in popular, scholarly, ordinary folk, interest-specific and communities’ consciousness and everyday practice.

It takes place as part of South Africa’s 26th national Heritage Day/Month (24th September) celebrations, together with the 27th anniversary of our Freedom and Democracy and marking the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 43rd World Maritime Month/Day.

“To this end, the Conference – which this year is again negatively affected by the COVID19-related restrictions - seeks to bring together individuals, institutions and groups with wide-ranging interests and knowledge in maritime heritage to explore and discuss diverse themes in this important sector”, concluded Mr Seakhoa.

To attend the 3rd Maritime Heritage Conference, please follow the link on our website:

www.maritimeheritage.africa.

For media enquiries, please contact:

The Maritime Heritage Institute

+27 11 791 9141 or

info@maritimeheritage.africa

MEDIA STATEMENT - THE INAUGURAL MARITIME HERITAGE LECTURE AND COLLOQUIA

THE INAUGURAL MARITIME HERITAGE LECTURE AND COLLOQUIA EXPLORE OUR SHIPPING HERITAGE, THE REMAKING AND SUSTAINING OF SOUTH AFRICA AS A NATION STATE:

The Maritime Heritage Institute (MHI) is hosting a groundbreaking inaugural Maritime Heritage Lecture and Colloquiain celebration of the World Maritime Day, National Heritage and Tourism Months on the 9th of October 2020 on digital online media platforms, amid the worldwide Covid19 pandemic restrictions.

This follows a very successful launch of the Maritime Heritage Conference in 2019 - under the theme of: MaritimeHeritage:- Reclaiming our Future, Advancing our Past – that boasted the support of the Sedibeng District Municipality, Lesedi Local Municipality, Midvaal Local Municipality, Emfuleni Local Municipality, Gauteng Department of Education (GDE), Sci-Bono Discovery Centre, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) and National Heritage Council.

Our speakers include Mr Vusumuzi Mkhize, Director General the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), Commander Tsietsi Mokhele: Chairperson of the Maritime Heritage Institute (MHI); Dr Nomvuyo Nokwe, Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA); Ms Louisa Mabe, Acting CEO of the National Heritage Council SA (NHC); Mr Thapedi Masanabo, Curator: South African Memorial at Delville Wood, France; Ms Julia Ramitshana, Women In Maritime Africa (WIMA); and Ambassador Major-General Prof Solly Mollo, South African High Commissioner to the Republic of Uganda

President of the South African Military History Commission

In keeping with the theme of World Maritime Day 2020, being “Sustainable Shipping for a Sustainable Planet”, the inaugural Maritime Heritage Lecture’s is “Our Shipping Heritage: The Making & Sustaining of Nations” and seek to reflect on our maritime heritage and history which show the role of ships in the development and sustaining of our society.

The aims of the Maritime Heritage Lecture and Colloquial Series, in celebrating the National Heritage Month, are to situate and advance the knowledge and engagement of our maritime heritage and future in popular, scholarly, ordinary folk, interest-specific and communities’ consciousness and everyday practice.

It takes place as part of South Africa’s 25th national Heritage Day/Month celebrations, together with the 26th anniversary of our Freedom and Democracy and marking the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) 42nd World Maritime Month/Day, the latter proudly hosted by South Africa.

To this end, the Conference – which this year is negatively affected by the Covid19-related restrictions - seeks to bring together individuals, institutions and groups with wide-ranging interests and knowledge in maritime heritage to explore and discuss diverse themes in this important sector.

For media enquiries, please contact:

The Maritime Heritage Institute

+27 11 791 9141 or

info@maritimeheritage.africa

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PRESS RELEASE: First Maritime Heritage Conference charts new ground on maritime heritage

The First Maritime Heritage Conference charted new ground and initiated a coordinated effort to communicate the importance of our maritime heritage and current maritime endeavours.

The conference promoted the interests and values of maritime industries, created a string of tangible and intangible benefits, initiated and enhanced the attention and interests to maritime museums heritage and illustrated how better understanding our past through the lens of Maritime Heritage will help the world better navigate the future.

This year’s global theme, ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community’, provided an opportunity for the South African port to reflect on the contributions of women in the sector and to promote its achievements in terms of gender equality in an industry historically dominated by males.

Speaking at the event Executive Mayor of Emfuleni, Councillor Gift Moerane said: “ The global theme means more than just ensuring economic involvement of women in the Maritime economy but it should address the misery inflicted on defenseless women of our land at the hands of brutal cowards who claim to be men. We call on society to unite to eliminate this scourge beyond the 16 Days program against violence perpetrated towards women and children”.

The aim of the Maritime Heritage Conference was to broaden the understanding of the sustainable use of the inland waterways to transform and grow the economies of the non-coastal municipalities and provinces thus the celebration came under the theme, Maritime Heritage: Reclaiming our Future, Advancing our Past.

Mayor Moerane also added that: “The relevance of this theme “Reclaim our Future and Advance our Past” talks to the people of Evaton, Sharpeville as it does to Vereeniging and Vanderbijlpark”. The Vaal River is our Image and our Identity. The Vaal River Embodies our Heritage.The Vaal River Created the Vaal Triangle, not the Opposite”.

The event also explored and showcased our country's maritime heritage and related economic opportunities. TNPA’s Captain Naresh Sewnath, Senior Manager Pilotage & Vessel Traffic Services, addressed the event with a message of support and a presentation on the topic 'Port Maritime History - Legacy, Challenges and Future Prospects’

The Conference also served as a launching pad for the much-needed maritime community awareness – through the Maritime Careers and Jobs Expo, which, together with the Maritime Heritage Lecture laid bare to the youth the fascinating wealth and knowledge embedded in the abundant maritime heritage space and assets, the economic opportunities and environmental risks presented by marine resources.

The heritage legislation in South Africa has recognised the importance of protecting maritime culture for many years, and national legislation has included the protection of shipwrecks as early as 1979. Heritage is the full range of our inherited traditions, monuments, objects, and culture. Most important, it is the range of contemporary activities, meanings, and behaviours that we draw from them.