SA Navy Ships Open to Public at Durban Port Festival:
The public will be able to board SA Navy ships and Transnet tugs at the Durban Port Festival on 09-10 September 2017 Photo: Philip Wilson
This weekend the South African Navy will host public tours of two of its naval ships as part of the Durban Port Festival being held from Saturday, 09 to Sunday, 10 September.
The festival is hosted by Transnet National Ports Authority, in partnership with eThekwini Municipality, MSC Cruises, African Marine Solutions (AMSOL) and the South African Navy.
SAS ISAAC DYOBHA and SAS GALESHEWE will be open from 10am at the N Shed passenger terminal in the Port of Durban – the area of the port from which cruise ships usually depart. The SA Navy will also have its diving tank stationed at N Shed for the public to interact with SA Navy divers. In addition Transnet National Ports Authority tugboats will be on display throughout the weekend of the Durban Port Festival.
As seen at previous such events, long queues should be expected and the public is urged to get there early and enjoy the array of other waterside and landside activities taking place as part of the port festival.
Oupa Moraile, Public Relations Officer, Naval Base Durban said, “The Durban Port Festival gives us an opportunity to bring the South African Navy closer to the community and showcase career opportunities that are available within the navy. This is even more important for Durban as we are in the process of upgrading the existing Naval Station back to a fully operational Naval Base.”
Other portside edu-tainment lined up as part of the Durban Port Festival includes a business and careers exhibition, while at Festival Island throughout the Durban Port Festival weekend port-goers can enjoy a special kids’ zone, live entertainment by popular South African music artists including Nasty C and Amanda Black, and an arts and craft market.
TNPA’s Durban Port Manager, Moshe Motlohi, said the idea behind the Durban Port Festival is to bring communities closer to the ports.
“Port access has been restricted since the advent of the global ISPS code of safety and security for ports a few years ago, and as a result communities have become disconnected from the ports. While we do need to adhere to these requirements, we are also aware of the need to develop and nurture relationships with our communities and ensure that they are exposed to the work we do and the opportunities that exist for them through the ports,” he said.
CLICK HERE to submit your press release to MyPR.co.za.
Click HERE to submit your Durban / Kwazulu-Natal Press Release.
