Contributing meaningfully to the development of the maritime sector is what drives South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)’s Maritime Research Projects Manager, Ms Siphosihle Mzileni, who graduated with a Master of Commerce in Maritime Studies degree from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN).
Through her study titled: ‘The Ship Repair Industry in the Eastern Cape: Economic Impact and Future Development’, supervised by Dr Sanele Gumede, Mzileni aimed to understand how port activity influences demand for ship repair services and where the opportunities for growth lie.
“The study contributes to an under-researched area by focusing specifically on the ship repair industry within the region and linking port activity patterns to economic opportunities,” said Mzileni.
She said the study’s key findings revealed that each port in the Eastern Cape served a distinct function. This is supported by the fact that the region – despite being strategically located along major global shipping routes and home to the ports of East London, Gqeberha and Ngqura – has not fully realised its potential in the ship repair world.
“Ngqura handles larger, more complex vessels with lower-frequency but higher-value repair opportunities. Port Elizabeth operates as a multi-purpose port, supporting a broad range of repair services, while East London sees more frequent, specialised vessel calls suited to short-cycle, labour-intensive repairs. This shows that ship repair potential is not just about cargo volumes but also about vessel types, operational patterns and infrastructure readiness,” said Mzileni.
However, the study also found that the industry is constrained by infrastructure gaps, skills shortages and regulatory limitations.
“As a result, much of the potential economic value is lost to more developed ports elsewhere,’ added Mzileni.
Mzileni, the co-founder of The Connect Podcast, an international platform dedicated to elevating awareness and fostering a deeper appreciation of the maritime industry, says her decision to pursue a maritime master’s degree was shaped by both academic and professional alignment with the maritime sector.
The qualification marks her second master’s degree, following her graduation from the prestigious World Maritime University (WMU) in Sweden, where she obtained a Master of Science in Maritime Affairs, specialising in Shipping Management and Logistics.
‘I was eager to deepen my understanding of the commercial and economic dimensions of the industry, particularly within the South African context. I come from the small town of Ngqamakhwe in the Eastern Cape and grew up in Gqeberha. This research felt personal, it’s about unlocking opportunities in a region that I know has so much potential.”
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Sethu Dlamini