UNITING MARITIME SOUTH AFRICA
JULY 2026:
First industry invitations sent to potential community members.
SEPTEMBER 2026:
Second industry invitations sent to potential community members.
NOVEMBER 2026:
Coastwise Connect will officially launch to the maritime industry.
We are not building a generic professional network
We are building the operating system for South Africa’s blue economy to connect. Sector forums. Cross-sector mentorship. SAMSA and IMO updates in one place. A real job board. The Women in Maritime channel. Working groups and more. It is one trusted meeting place for an industry that has never had one.
UNITING MARITIME SOUTH AFRICA
We've all walked away from a conference saying:
“We need to collaborate more.”
Then we fly home and the silos continue to rise
up behind us.
Every conference says it. We're finally doing it!
The result is a sea of silos. Duplicated work across sub-sectors. Innovation that stalls at the boundary between disciplines. A workforce that can’t mentor the next generation because there’s no place to find them.
What is this all about?
Imagine Coastwise Connect as a venue rather than a platform. It is a venue that allows us to curate a space where members are welcome to stop by and engage in the way that is comfortable for them.
Imagine opening the doors to a maritime centre where there are spaces to engage one-on-one with other visitors; where you can walk into a Maritime Masterclass at any time to improve your understanding of maritime issues; where you can participate in realtime discussions around calls for public comment on draft legislation; where you can scour the notice board for funding opportunities or jobs or grants and where you get invited to join niche cohorts or even start your own cohort.
How will Coastwise Connect differ from engagement on other social media platforms?
Coastwise Connect is built specifically for the South African maritime community. It creates a space for direct engagement, mentorship, mutual support, industry visibility, access to information and collaboration.
What type of information will the Coastwise Connect members have access to?
The community includes open channels with updated relevant maritime legislation and regulations as they are released; and the opportunity for members to engage in realtime to script industry responses where necessary. It will include a dedicated International Maritime Organisation channel for international updates. There's a separate channel to showcase maritime job opportunities, grants and opportunities as well as another channel to ask for help. But, that's just the beginning - the community will evolve to meet the needs of its members as its members evolve.
Who is behind the Coastwise Connect community?
Having heard the continuous call for collaboration within the industry, the Coastwise Connect community is being launched by Colleen Jacka, founding editor of Maritime Review Africa. Maritime Review Africa will provide the support and leverage its access to information for the community. Colleen will be actively involved in ensuring that community members gain access to information, nurture engagement, showcase opportunities and provide an overall leadership function.
Is there a cost involved?
The cost of the platform as well as administrative functions will be covered through a reasonable monthly subscription fee. As a subscriber to the platform and a member of the Coastwise Community, you will be welcome to visit our "maritime venue" at any time and will have access to courses, events, discussions and assistance. Add your name to the waiting list to be invited into the Community during our July and September intake and you will benefit from a voucher for a free trial period to test the waters.
THE VOYAGE AHEAD
MAY 2026: Call for applications from potential Founding Connectors. We are looking to attract people from across the maritime sectors with an interest in building the space where we finally break down silos and foster collaboration. [APPLICATIONS ARE CLOSED]
JUNE 2026: Our application process to become a Founding Connector closes on 1 June. During June we will finalise and onboard our cohort of Founding Connectors. They will be notified and invited into the community. [JOIN THE WAITING LIST TO BE ON THE INVITE LIST]
JULY 2026: Once our Founding Connectors have become settled and we have engaged on the practicalities of the community, we will issue the first industry invitations to a selected group of industry stakeholders.
AUGUST 2026: Working with the Founding Connectors and engaging with the first group, we will identify a list of potential courses and maritime masterclasses that would add value to the community and drive engagement.
SEPTEMBER 2026: With everyone nicely settled and the community beginning to develop its own rhythm, we will reach out to our second group of industry invitees to join the space. [JOIN THE WAITING LIST TO BE ON THE INVITE LIST]
OCTOBER 2026: Our aim is to launch at least one Coastwise Course in October ahead of the official launch of the community.
NOVEMBER 2026: OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF COASTWISE CONNECT TO WIDER MARITIME COMMUNITY
