Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and the US Port of Miami are to collaborate on vital skills and training after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Cape Town.

Delegations from the US and South Africa agree that there are numerous opportunities for collaboration.

“Miami is known for its cruise liner industry and we’d like to learn from them about that. Among other things, we’re also looking into extending our Cape Town container terminal out to sea and would need technical expertise on how best to do that,” says TNPA CEO Tau Morwe.

He says, while there is no monetary investment, the exchange of ideas, information and know-how is vital.

The MoU has been a long time coming. A South African delegation visited Miami a few years ago and a large delegation led by Miami-Dade county’s Audrey Edmonson is now visiting South Africa’s shores.

“We’re committed to forming relationships with the ports of South Africa. We don’t see it as a ‘big brother’ relationship. We have as much to learn from your ports as you do from us,” she says.

Edmonson says she would like to see internships and exchanges between Miami and South African ports.

A tender has already been put out for a cruise liner terminal in Cape Town, with an announcement expected soon. TNPA sees great opportunity in Cape Town being a base or stopover for cruises to the Seychelles, Reunion, Mauritius and St Helena, as well as world cruises.

“The Port of Miami is the ‘head professor’ of the cruise industry, so we can offer our expertise,” says Business Diplomacy Consulting CEO Bryant Salter.

The Port of Miami, known as the cruise capital of the world, saw more than four-million cruise passengers in 2013. It is also called the cargo gateway of the Americas, carrying eight-million cargo tons a year.

The Port of Miami’s largest exports to South Africa are currently machinery, vehicles, electronics and textiles, while South Africa’s largest exports to Miami are metal, articles of steel, textiles and live trees.

“Although trade with Africa has been down due to the global recession, Port Miami has plans to change that,” says the Miami port authorities.

For many African countries, Miami is the closest US entry point into the key North American market.

TNPA planning and development manager Lindo Mkhize says strategic focus areas for the Port of Cape Town include expanding its container terminal’s capacity, which is its primary revenue stream.