Svitzer Angola brought together around 50 fishermen, representatives of local authorities and company employees on Wednesday in the municipality of Soyo, Zaire Province, for an initiative aimed at strengthening maritime safety and environmental protection. Held as part of Global Safety Day, the activity combined an awareness session on risk prevention at sea with a clean-up campaign at Praia dos Pobres.
The initiative sought to promote safer behaviour among the different users of Soyo’s maritime space, where Svitzer tugboats and fishing vessels operate in the same waters. The session covered accident prevention, the use of personal protective equipment, navigation rules, communication and signalling, safe circulation in areas shared with larger vessels, and basic procedures for responding to emergency situations.
Luís Combo, Director of Environment, Hygiene and Safety for the Municipality of Soyo, highlighted the need to link the preservation of life at sea with the protection of the coastal environment, noting that the coastline is a source of livelihood for many families. Svitzer Angola Managing Director Martijn Koolen, for his part, said safety is a shared responsibility among all those who use the maritime space, regardless of the activities they carry out.
The environmental component of the initiative took place at Praia dos Pobres, where fishermen, local authority representatives, members of the Fishermen’s Association and Svitzer employees joined a collective clean-up operation. According to the company, the activity aimed to combine accident prevention at sea with a practical coastal preservation effort, while strengthening cooperation between companies, authorities and communities in addressing shared challenges.
Global Safety Day is an annual Svitzer initiative held across the different markets where the company operates, with the aim of promoting a culture of safety and prevention. Present in Angola since 2011, the company operates in Soyo and Cabinda, providing maritime services that support energy exports and contribute to the country’s economic activity.
30/09/2026
