Robert Young joined Unicorn’s ancestral company, Thesen's Steamship Co, Cape Town, as Cadet Officer 1965 immediately after writing Matric and was appointed Second Engineer Officer at age 21, and Chief Engineer Officer at age 23.

 Robert obtained First Class Combined Steam and Motor Foreign Going certificate 1973 at age 25 (Currently he holds SAMSA certificate No. 1)

He served at sea for ten years (four of which as Chief Engineer) on variety of ship types and sizes including local trading and foreign-going research, passenger, and container vessels.
Robert was then appointed to Unicorn shore management, Durban in 1975 as Superintendent, and subsequently to the positions of Fleet Manager, Technical Manager, and in 1989 to Marine Director – a position held until retirement at end of January 2010 after 45 years of unbroken service.

He was awarded a B.Comm (Economics) degree Cum Laude in 1991 by UNISA.

Robert was closely involved in technical concepts of all new ships built for the company since 1975 and, since 1993 was directly responsible for the technical specification and building oversight of some 34 new oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers built to order by Grindrod.

Past Vice-President and President of SA Ship Owners' Association

Fellow of SA Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Member of Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (UK)

Chartered Engineer (UK)

Member of American Bureau of Shipping (ship classification society)

Robert Young joined Unicorn’s ancestral company, Thesen's Steamship Co, Cape Town, as Cadet Officer 1965 immediately after writing Matric and was appointed Second Engineer Officer at age 21, and Chief Engineer Officer at age 23.

 Robert obtained First Class Combined Steam and Motor Foreign Going certificate 1973 at age 25 (Currently he holds SAMSA certificate No. 1)

He served at sea for ten years (four of which as Chief Engineer) on variety of ship types and sizes including local trading and foreign-going research, passenger, and container vessels.
Robert was then appointed to Unicorn shore management, Durban in 1975 as Superintendent, and subsequently to the positions of Fleet Manager, Technical Manager, and in 1989 to Marine Director – a position held until retirement at end of January 2010 after 45 years of unbroken service.

He was awarded a B.Comm (Economics) degree Cum Laude in 1991 by UNISA.

Robert was closely involved in technical concepts of all new ships built for the company since 1975 and, since 1993 was directly responsible for the technical specification and building oversight of some 34 new oil tankers, container ships and bulk carriers built to order by Grindrod.

Past Vice-President and President of SA Ship Owners' Association

Fellow of SA Institute of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects

Member of Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (UK)

Chartered Engineer (UK)

Member of American Bureau of Shipping (ship classification society)

Pim Zandee trained as a Navigating Cadet at General Botha in 1964 before joining Safmarine. His career at sea started onboard the ill fated “SA Seafarer” prior to her demise at Green Point.

 

He spent a year as Chief Officer on the first offshore supply vessel to work on South African coast during 1969. Before rejoining Safmarine in 1973 he worked for BP in East London. At Safmarine’s Special Ships Division he assisted Capt Okkie Grapow in January 1975 in awaiting delivery of the “Wolraad Woltemade”, the “John Ross” and five “Kuswags”.

Pim then worked with specialist seafarers, technical and commercial functions, contracting for salvage and towage work globally. A wide range of activities followed including the start of the government’s preventative oil pollution contract and the putting to work three Voith Scheider harbour tugs for Iscor.

This culminated in the formation of Pentow Marine where he was appointed Assistant GM to Dai Davies. This appointment gave him the satisfaction of being able to put in place a number of new operations such as the initiation of the Mossgas offshore tanker terminal as well as numerous other projects culminating in the long term manning contract for the cable repair vessel and importantly, the ability to successfully man, manage and operate a whole fleet belonging to the government – the DEA&T’s fisheries patrol and research ships.

 

After rising to the position of CEO of Smit companies in South Africa, Pim was succeeded in 2005 and eventually retired in 2009.

Today he is on the list of ‘Special Casualty Representatives (SCR) able to be called out by the P&I Clubs to assist with environmentally sensitive salvage operations.

Pim Zandee trained as a Navigating Cadet at General Botha in 1964 before joining Safmarine. His career at sea started onboard the ill fated “SA Seafarer” prior to her demise at Green Point.

 

He spent a year as Chief Officer on the first offshore supply vessel to work on South African coast during 1969. Before rejoining Safmarine in 1973 he worked for BP in East London. At Safmarine’s Special Ships Division he assisted Capt Okkie Grapow in January 1975 in awaiting delivery of the “Wolraad Woltemade”, the “John Ross” and five “Kuswags”.

Pim then worked with specialist seafarers, technical and commercial functions, contracting for salvage and towage work globally. A wide range of activities followed including the start of the government’s preventative oil pollution contract and the putting to work three Voith Scheider harbour tugs for Iscor.

This culminated in the formation of Pentow Marine where he was appointed Assistant GM to Dai Davies. This appointment gave him the satisfaction of being able to put in place a number of new operations such as the initiation of the Mossgas offshore tanker terminal as well as numerous other projects culminating in the long term manning contract for the cable repair vessel and importantly, the ability to successfully man, manage and operate a whole fleet belonging to the government – the DEA&T’s fisheries patrol and research ships.

 

After rising to the position of CEO of Smit companies in South Africa, Pim was succeeded in 2005 and eventually retired in 2009.

Today he is on the list of ‘Special Casualty Representatives (SCR) able to be called out by the P&I Clubs to assist with environmentally sensitive salvage operations.

Claire Attwood is fisheries editor of “Maritime Southern Africa” and a regular contributor to “Fishing News International”.

 She also manages public relations projects for companies and organisations involved in the maritime industries.

Claire is fascinated by the unique mix of science, politics, industry and economics that make up a good fishing story. She has written extensively about fisheries in South Africa and Namibia and has also covered stories in Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania; and has been closely associated with the fishing sector and its seafarers for a number of years.

Claire Attwood is fisheries editor of “Maritime Southern Africa” and a regular contributor to “Fishing News International”.

 She also manages public relations projects for companies and organisations involved in the maritime industries.

Claire is fascinated by the unique mix of science, politics, industry and economics that make up a good fishing story. She has written extensively about fisheries in South Africa and Namibia and has also covered stories in Angola, Mozambique and Tanzania; and has been closely associated with the fishing sector and its seafarers for a number of years.

Rob Whitehead of African Maritime Services was recently elected as the Master of the Cape Town branch of the Society of Master Mariners, but started his seafaring career in 1972 as a deck cadet at Safmarine.

Whitehead progressed through the Deck Officer ranks obtaining Master Mariner (Foreign Going) Certificate of Competency in 1981.

He left Safmarine in 1984 to join the SA Merchant Navy Academy in Granger Bay as Nautical Lecturer where he lectured in meteorology, navigation, seamanship and survival at sea.

In 1986 he joined Irvin & Johnson where he progressed to Marine Manager, Fleet Manager and eventually as General Manager of the Trawling Division from 1991 to 1996.

He then left the fishing company to launch African Maritime Services with  business partner, Alf Wallace. 

Rob Whitehead of African Maritime Services was recently elected as the Master of the Cape Town branch of the Society of Master Mariners, but started his seafaring career in 1972 as a deck cadet at Safmarine.

Whitehead progressed through the Deck Officer ranks obtaining Master Mariner (Foreign Going) Certificate of Competency in 1981.

He left Safmarine in 1984 to join the SA Merchant Navy Academy in Granger Bay as Nautical Lecturer where he lectured in meteorology, navigation, seamanship and survival at sea.

In 1986 he joined Irvin & Johnson where he progressed to Marine Manager, Fleet Manager and eventually as General Manager of the Trawling Division from 1991 to 1996.

He then left the fishing company to launch African Maritime Services with  business partner, Alf Wallace.