Marico Skills Development

HP Maritime Awareness, now trading as MARItime Consolidated Skills Development and Awareness (MARICO), is a South African non-profit organisation established and managed by a group of South African maritime professionals. The organisation was founded by Mr Philisani Ncane, who began its informal operations in early 2014; visiting schools in the rural areas of KwaZulu Natal, telling high school learners about the maritime industry and the opportunities therein. This he did, due to his lived experience of a lack of awareness of the maritime industry, his accidental collision with the information, and the resulting struggles as he tried to forge a notable career in this unique and widely mysterious industry. Word rapidly spread- and soon enough, a strong demand for such maritime awareness sessions had been established in KwaZulu Natal. This led to the officiation of the organisation, in 2016, when the formal project “It’s Mari-time”, was devised. Thereafter, a team of maritime professionals joined the organisation, who shared a strong passion for playing a role in ascertaining demographic transformation and inclusiveness in the maritime industry. Today, the organisation has partnered up with prominent maritime stakeholders, in conducting successful maritime awareness and knowledge expansion sessions nationwide. The maritime industry, in South Africa, has the potential to become a major contributor to the country’s economic growth. MARICO has mandated itself to educate, groom, and equip the future of the maritime industry, today.