Pretoria - The South African Navy will next week host the 3rd Sea Power for Africa Symposium which will focus on the challenges facing navies throughout the continent.
Navy representatives from more than 30 African countries are expected to converge in Cape Town to attend the symposium themed: Towards Effective Maritime Governance for Africa.
Speaking at a briefing on Monday ahead of the symposium, Chief Director of Maritime Strategy, Rear Admiral Bernard Teuterg, said the symposium will also look at ways to promote cooperation between the navies on the continent.
"The inaugural Sea Power Symposium for Africa was in recognition of the need for greater coodination and cooperation in matters dealing with maritime security on our continent," Rear Admiral Teuterg said.
He said the symposium sought to build on the successes of the first two symposia and to go beyond creating maritime security for the continent.
One of the 2005 Sea Power Symposium resolutions was a need to employ a continental early warning system linked to regional early warning systems of Africa to ensure the pro-active, effective and efficient use of Africa's collective maritime assets in order to assist in the prevention of conflicts.
Delegates will also use the opportunity to forge partnerships in various areas such as working and learning from each other.
Among other issues to be discussed at the symposium includes piracy and drug trafficking.
According to the South African Navy, the symposium will give the chiefs of African navies an opportunity to discuss matters of mutual maritime importance in order to create greater understanding, co-operation and friendship within the continent.
