Philippine Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja with South African Maritime Safety Authority Capt. Tobela Gqabu (2nd from left), Ship Surveyor Mbuso Goba (3rd from left) and Deputy Principal Officer Rodrego Thompson (2nd from right)
As part of the Embassy’s mandate to promote the welfare of Filipino seafarers abroad, Philippine Ambassador Noralyn Jubaira Baja met with officials of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal on 26 August 2022.
SAMSA is the chief South African government agency tasked to ensure safety of life and property at sea, and maintains operations at all major South African ports.
Among the points of discussion was the recent case involving 18 Filipino fishermen who were stranded in early August 2022. Ambassador Baja conveyed the Embassy’s strong desire to nurture its positive partnership with SAMSA that would further enhance the provision of services to Filipino seafarers in South Africa.
The meeting also took place on the eve of the Philippines’ annual observance of the Maritime Archipelagic and Nation Awareness Month (MANA Mo) every month of September, which seeks to highlight the importance of the Philippine maritime industry in the global shipping industry.
