Senior maritime instructor and manager at Survival Centre, Samantha Montes is the first female and person from the African continent to be appointed as the chairperson of the International Association for Safety and Survival Training (IASST).

Montes has served on several committees within the South African Maritime context. Having managed the CPUT Erasmus+ Project (EURO-ZA Capacity Building in the field of Maritime Education), she is “up for a new challenge”. She has been in this field (maritime) for more than 20 years, and she never thought she would be the first in anything in her career, “from the IASST being a mere certificate on the walls which I pass every day at work, to now heading up this association is quite a personal achievement”.

“I am affectionally known as the Maritime Oracle in my industry. I achieved this by asking a lot of questions. Asking the right kind of questions is the key. Resilience is the factor to getting to this point in my career. I am not afraid of failure. ‘The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.’ - Ralph Waldo Emerson.” As a female, Montes hopes to see more women in similar posts within their organisations and to highlight that safety has no gender discrimination. As an African, it was so refreshing for her to engage with members and “receive such support”. “The partners share information without prejudice. In South Africa, we speak about Ubuntu. It is often described as reminding us that 'I am what I am because of who we all are'. What we can learn from our partners in other countries is collectively seeking a common goal, although locally we call for collaboration, do we practice this?

“In local forums we can identify challenges, but do we work collectively to solve these? I hope to bring my knowledge of how other countries (training providers) have worked to mitigate their challenges to our shores.”

Reflecting on her new journey, as an incoming new chairperson of the IASST, Montes added “Excited, nervous, a mix of emotions. However, the support I have received from the maritime industry has been almost overwhelming. I never realised how many cheerleaders I have.” The IASST which was founded in 1980 and its commitment is to promote effective maritime safety and survival training. It also encourages the interchange of ideas and information to improve the quality of training internationally. The association also encourages instructor exchanges and contribute to the development and improvement of safety and survival technology. It also forges and maintain links with government, industry, national and international organisations and provides consultative and advisory services in safety and survival training.

Her mandate as chair is to promote the association internationally, being spokesperson for IASST and establish working groups to carry out specific tasks. Despite her impressive career, Montes still don’t consider herself successful in her career, “as there is still so much work to be done in the maritime industry to ensure it is a safe working environment”. The people I know inspire me every day through their passion. I believe we can inspire each other through our actions.” Her aspiration is to teach others that failing does not define “who you are”.

“What defines you is how you act after failure.”

During the pandemic, the lines between work and home life became blurred for her. “I made a conscious decision to set clear boundaries to protect my peace and my mental wellbeing. Spending time with my loved ones is something that cannot be bought or replaced.”

Montes says planning ensures that she keeps on top of her busy work schedule. “I have separate notebooks/share drives for each of my portfolios to ensure I adhere to my constitutional duties of each of these posts.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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The Maritime Department recently hosted a four-day International Association for Safety and Survival Training (IASST) Meeting and Seminar: “The Use of Simulators in Safety and Survival Training”, at  Granger Bay campus.

IASST is a highly professional organisation, which pays efforts to improve the efficiency of safety and survival training all over the world, therefore, saving the lives of seafarers. The IASST has vast experience of more than 40 years in the field, which is combined with the expertise of all its members. It is a huge network of more than 150 members, located in more than 50 countries and on all continents. Every single member contributes to the development of the association and the safety of seafarers.

The event had 20 delegates coming from CPUT: Department of Maritime Studies, Project Maritime Training: South Africa, Sea Safety Training Group: South Africa, Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK): Japan, National Maritime College of Ireland: Ireland, Survival Systems Limited: Canada, Maritiem Instituut Willem Barentsz: Netherlands, WoW Company International SA: Belgium, Novikontas: Latvia, The Centre for the Study and Practice of Survival (CEPS): France and FISH Platform: Netherlands.

Senior Maritime Instructor and Manager: Department of Maritime Studies: Survival Centre, Samantha Montes, who was the event organiser, said the objective of the meeting was to facilitate an exchange of information and to fulfil other objectives of the IASST, and that the meetings are held regularly at locations around the world.

Montes said the international meetings are held to conduct the business affairs of the association. Standing items on the agenda of international meetings include review, approval and matters arising from minutes of previous meetings; future meetings membership matters and a round table of membership issues, however, she said the meetings’ agendas were not necessarily limited to the aforementioned matters. Montes added that a one-day safety seminar is held in conjunction with any international meeting. A safety seminar features a mix of international and local presenters.

Reflecting on this year's event, Montes said the event was very successful as “we were only asked in July to host due to the assigned host could no longer accommodate the meeting and seminar”. “[I was] impressed with the quality of speakers who were available at short notice. I am honoured that we, as CPUT, were asked to host. The IASST has not met in South Africa before, and this was the first CPUT was hosting since the inception of IASST in the 1980s.”

Yann Chauty from CEPS said the main topic, Simulation in safety, training was very interesting and successful. Chauty added that there was a need to invest sufficiently in the quality of the training equipment of the schools,  including davits, lifeboats, etc, which “are very obsolete”.

Cormac Mac Sweeney from Munster Technological University said the event accelerated the update on current thinking and possibilities regarding the use of simulation in safety training. Sweeney said a lot can be achieved in online meetings and there is no doubt there is a cost involved in in-person meetings.

“In person [meetings] gives you the opportunity of not only having longer discussions on the topic but also the ability to discuss other topics of mutual interest, expanding on similar methodologies, discussing new ideas and perhaps creating new links,” partnerships etc,” he continued.

“Overall, the ability, without time restraint, to discuss areas of mutual interest to improve our ability to pass the most up-to-date knowledge onto our students/clients.”

Leon Morton from Sea Safety Training Group, said: “I would say in terms of simulation the last presenter with the gaming mode was something interesting, however, not all age groups would be able to do that as the gaming consoles take time to get used to… My favourite was the fish platform, showing how everyone locally and internationally, doesn’t consider the figures of the fishing industry. Our fishing industry needs to be included and not just be on the side as a mention.”

“We are from Canada, and it was nice to see that South Africa was developing a safety culture when it comes to survival at sea.  And yes, the people were extremely nice and helpful,” said Paul Douglas from Survival Systems. 

The IASST also handed over a charitable donation of 500 British Pounds to the National Sea Rescue Institute- NSRI Station 29 - Airborne Sea Rescue.

Written by Aphiwe Boyce
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Senior maritime instructor and manager of the Survival Centre, Samantha Montes, who is also the membership director of the International Association for Safety and Survival Training (IASST), recently attended the IASST International Meeting and Conference which was hosted by Ceronav Training Centre in Romania.

IASST is a professional organisation, which pays efforts to improve the efficiency of safety and survival training all over the world, as a consequence - to save the lives of seafarers. The IASST has vast experience of more than 40 years in the field It is a huge network of more than 150 members, located in over 50 countries and in all continents.

IASST hosts international meetings twice a year which gives members the unique opportunity to visit member training centres globally (CPUT hosted in October 2022). The meetings are followed by a safety seminar with guest speakers from around the world. The topic of the seminar hosted by CERONAV in Romania was “Using Simulators and Practical Training Basis to Improve Maritime Safety Training”.

“My objective was to represent CPUT Survival Centre at the meeting and safety seminar as well as perform my duties as membership director,” Montes remarked.

“My expectations were surpassed by the robust discussion during the members’ meeting and followed by the safety seminar the following day. Knowledge sharing is vital in the field of Safety and Survival Training with best practice being discussed by colleagues who attend from across the globe. As well as a chance to share what we practice in South Africa.”

During the safety seminar, the Ceronav Romanian Maritime Training Centre, shared their experiences during the earthquake disaster in Syria/Turkey February in 2023. Where staff members volunteered in rescue operations this sentence is incomplete. “We were treated to a private dinner at Bran Castle in Transylvania, which included a tour of the legendary castle made famous by Brahm Stoker’s telling of Dracula.”

She said the lecture on changes to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) will be shared to lecturers to update their course materials. “Additionally, the changes proposed by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) with regards to the use of simulators in the training of Survival Craft and rescue boats was interesting as CPUT embraces the 5IR.

“I have been asked to consider becoming the next chairperson of the IASST and this would be remarkable as being the first woman to stand as well as the first person from the continent of Africa. A decision will be made at the upcoming meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan at the end of September 2023.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

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