A new fishing vessel has been named after Namibian ophthalmologist Dr Helena Ndume.
Ndume was selected by HoneyGuide Investments to be the vessel’s namesake in celebration of her exceptional humanitarian work among communities.
The vessel, purchased for N$100 million, employs 32 members, including 12 Namibians.
Speaking at the recent launch of the vessel’s maiden journey to Antarctica, Ndume expressed her pride and appreciation.
“I received communication around April from the company’s general manager, Fernando de Castro, about the project . . . asking for consent for his company to name their fishing vessel after me.
“Growing up at my hometown Tsumeb in the Nomtsoub lokasie, being in the camps of Swapo or the countries where I went on to further my education, never did it occur to me, even in my wildest dreams, that one day I would have a fishing vessel or any other water vessel named after me.
“It is, therefore, with humility and indeed honour that I accept this majestic fishing vessel to be my namesake “ she said.
A few Namibians will be on board, and Ndume encouraged crew members to be hardworking.
“This is a gesture that is greatly appreciated as job opportunities have been created. We have a saying in Oshiwambo, edhina ekogidho, which means the child will grow up to take on the mannerisms of their namesake.
“If the namesake is lazy, the community will blame the parents for naming their child after a lazy person.”
De Castro said he was proud to name the vessel after Ndume.
“It was an honour to choose Dr Helena Ndume because of her humanitarian mission for Namibian people, which goes along with our vision of doing social work. We are going to be fishing in the South Pole. It will be an adventure.”
Deputy executive director of fisheries and marine resources Ueritjiua Kauaria congratulated the company and Ndume, saying it was a proud moment for Namibians.
“She is Namibia’s most renowned humanitarian and ophthalmologist,” he said.
Kauaria commended the company for registering and flagging the vessel as Namibian.
“Our records at the ministry indicate that the vessel was licensed to fish for toothfish, the Dissostichus, species in the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Convention area.”
The vessel will sail from Walvis Bay in the next two days and will be travelling for 60 days.
