A South African harbor manager has been appointed to lead a regional committee for port managers.
Oliver Ochieng and Bonface Orucho
A change of guard has occurred at the body that governs and manages African ports, the African Harbour Masters’ Committee (AHMC) with South African, Thulani Dubeko taking over as the president.
The announcement made at the 14th International Harbour Master’s Congress at Tanger Med Port Centre in Morocco confirmed Captain Dubeko who is currently the harbour master at South Africa’s state-owned Port of Ngqura harbour.
Headquartered in South Africa, the AHMC is the African chapter of the International Harbour Masters’ Association (IHMA) bringing together African harbour masters to share ideas on the management of all aspects of maritime port operations.
Formed in 2021, AHMC is mandated with ensuring the safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound conduct of marine operations in port waters. Moroccan Captain Mohamed Maghazi was elected the organisation’s inaugural president.
The new president who also scooped the outstanding individual achievement in the profession of harbour master award’s appointment underscores a journey of steady growth and excellence since 1998 when he joined Transnet as an awardee of the state-owned ports operator’s bursary.
According to a media release by TNPA, Dubeko grew up in Lusikisiki, in the Eastern Cape region. He had no exposure to the maritime sector until he joined the South African Navy.
“After his time in the navy, he pursued a qualification in maritime studies at the Durban University of Technology. During his second year of studies in 1998, he was awarded a Transnet bursary,” the media release explains.
After this, he joined TNPA as a trainee in marine operations and received marine pilot training in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He progressed through various positions within the South African ports system including tug master, marine pilot, marine operations manager, and deputy harbour master before assuming his current position.
Despite South African ports including his latest work-station, the port of Ngqura in the Eastern Cape, experiencing logistical issues due to financing gaps, Dubeko leaves a reputable legacy.
This industrial port, which became operational in 2009, is one of the youngest in the country situated in Algoa Bay, 20 km north-east of Port Elizabeth and is located within the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ).
According to its website, the port handles just over 6 million tonnes of cargo, a year from over 400 ship calls.
“Since 2013 we have handled imported wind turbines where approximately 2000 pieces of grossly abnormal cargo were discharged, stored and removed from the port,” the website explains some of the unique achievements attained in the past decade.
He takes the helm of leadership at the continental organization at a time when African ports are undergoing significant changes ranging from port expansions and modernization drives to efforts to privatize operations in a bid to achieve efficiency.
Notably, African ports around the continent are undergoing a major transformation, with services and facilities seeing rapid improvements as governments race to support faster economic growth.
Pressure for improvement has largely come from African business interests as growing road and rail infrastructure - and the growing roll-out of a free trade area under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement - offer increased opportunities for trade between African countries and exports of processed goods.
Apart from infrastructural upgrades, governments in Africa are considering port privatisations in an effort to boost efficiency propelled by private investors. South Africa is already on course with its privatisation bid especially after striking a 25-year partnership with the International Container Terminal Services (ICTSI) targeting the port of Durban.
The privatisation model is being considered in several other countries including in Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, among others.
TNPA chief harbour master Captain Rufus Lekala congratulated Dubeko on this achievement.
“It is encouraging that our professionals are able to hold positions of responsibility in such prestigious institutions and worldwide organisations. These institutions are key in driving development and transformation of the maritime sector,” he said.
“As the president of the AHMC, Captain Dubeko will be responsible for developing Harbour Masters across the continent through the exchange of knowledge and training to help improve safety and customer service. The role includes advancing the African Integrated Maritime Strategy 2050, which aims to improve maritime conditions related to environmental and economic development within the African countries,” Lekala noted in the press statement.
Dubeko has been serving the African Harbour Masters’ Committee as Vice President since 2022. His term as AHMC president will end in 2026.
/Blue Africa
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