Occupational Qualification · S23
Discretionary Grant · OpenShipping Agent
- NQF Level
- NQF Level 5
- Credits
- 240
- Duration
- —
- SAQA ID
- 110934
Official QCTO Registry Profile
Source: SAQA / QCTO registry- SAQA ID
- 110934
- Min Credits
- 240
- Registered
- 2019-10-24
- Re-registration
- 2025-12-30
- Field
- Field 11 - Services
- Sub-field
- Transport, Operations and Logistics
Sample Asset Preview
Overview & Scope
Programme Profile
- Target Designation
- Certified Shipping Agent Practitioner
- Competency Focus
- Master specialised practical applications, safety criteria, and regulatory mandates required of a qualified Shipping Agent.
- Academic Weight
- Full national recognition at NQF Level 5 yielding 240 credits upon successful PoE verification.
- Work Opportunities
- Deployment across As a qualified shipping agent, you can find employment opportunities in Transport, Logistics, Maritime, Aviation. Your skills will be in demand across both public and private sectors, and you may also choose to work as an independent contractor or start your own business in this field. operations under TETA scope.
- Audit Objective
- Bridges operational skills deficits under the governing TETA quality matrix.
- Value Proposition
- Measurable, legally compliant skills that optimise productivity, satisfy Workplace Skills Plans (WSP), and unlock B-BBEE scorecard weight.
Introduction▾
The Shipping Agent (NQF Level 5, 240 credits) is a comprehensive Occupational Certificate that blends foundational theory with intensive practical application. Throughout your learning journey, you will develop the competencies required to operate effectively, safely, and ethically within your industry. Employers value this qualification because it signals that you are job-ready from day one.
Purpose▾
The purpose of this qualification is to provide learners with the required knowledge, practical skills and work experience to prepare a learner to operate as a Shipping Agent. A Shipping Agent liaises and processes transactions of a ship or cargo on behalf of the ship owners, ship managers or ship charterers. A qualified learner will be able to: • Prepare the disbursement account. • Advise all authorities of the ship's arrival. • Keep cargo interests updated. • Arrange husbandry matters (doctors, dentists, arriving/departing crew, technical services). • Arrange for the ship to berth. • Tender notice of readiness. • Keep a statement of facts. • Update all stakeholders daily on progress. • Coordinate the bunkers. • Arrange surveyors. • Authorise signing bills of lading. • Keep a record of the port call expenses. • Arrange for the sailing of the ship. • Send final disbursement account to owners. • Send sailing documentation to owners, charterers and next port of call.
Entry Requirements▾
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of results or by certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • NQF Level 4 qualification with English and Mathematics.
SAQA Rationale▾
There is on average a total of between 15 000 to 20 000 commercial ships calling at South African ports annually. The role of a shipping agent is vital in order to ensure that these vessels are expedited through our ports. The Occupational Certificate: Shipping Agents serve to equip qualifying learners with the necessary skills to plan for the port call of a ship and to manage its port operations and post departure activities. Typical learners for this qualification would include learners exiting at grade 12, unemployed persons and persons who are working in the shipping environment but without formal qualification. South Africa is in the process of developing its blue economy. Skilled and knowledgeable ships agents is a stride in the right direction. The implementation of this qualification is, therefore, in support of the economic objectives of the country.
Learning Assumed to be in Place & RPL▾
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): RPL for Access to the External Integrated Summative Assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of results or by certifying a work experience record. RPL for Access to the Qualification: Accredited providers and approved workplaces may recognise prior learning against the relevant access requirements. Entry Requirements: • NQF Level 4 qualification with English and Mathematics.
Exit Level Outcomes▾
- Plan and prepare for ship's port call.
- Manage ship's port operations
- Manage post departure requirements of a ship.
Learning Material Included
- Learner Guide (Theory and Knowledge Modules)
- Facilitator Guide
- Workplace Logbook
- Formative and Summative Assessment
- Assessor Guide & Marking Memorandum
- SETA / QCTO Alignment Matrix
- Administrative & Onboarding Pack
- Implementation Plan
Moderator-Ready Curriculum Breakdown
16 modules · 240 creditsTheory, regulatory and safety knowledge. Each row carries the registered module code, NQF level and credit weight used for formative assessment rubric mapping.
- 333101-001-00-KM-015 cr
Communication and Stakeholder Management
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-0225 cr
Maritime Geography, Local and International Trade
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-0310 cr
Ships Design and Cargo Operations
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-0415 cr
Shipping Documentation
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-0510 cr
Port and Terminal Management
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-0610 cr
Ship Agency Services
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-075 cr
Marine Insurance
NQF Level 5
- 333101-001-00-KM-0810 cr
Legal Principles
NQF Level 5
Qualification 110934 · Curriculum Architecture
Occupational Certificate: Shipping Agent · NQF Level 5 (240 Credits)
Three Curriculum Pillars
Knowledge Modules
Classroom & E-Learning
- Facilitated lectures & self-study
- Written question banks
- Formative comprehension checks
Practical Skill Modules
Simulated Line Tasks
- Simulated line tasks
- Observation rubrics
- Structured task sheets
Work Experience Modules
On-the-Job Production
- On-the-job rotation
- Mentor logbooks
- Workplace sign-offs
Evidence & Audit Pipeline
Learner Portfolio of Evidence (PoE)Owner · Candidate▾
Admin & Registration
ID, learner contract, induction pack, POPIA consent.
Knowledge Evidence
Written assessments & question banks — KM-01 to KM-07.
Practical Evidence
Task sheets, observation rubrics, assessor photos.
Workplace Evidence
Logbooks, mentor sign-offs, supervisor letters.
Assessor Master FileOwner · Registered Assessor▾
Assessment Reports
Judgements, learner feedback, remediation agreements, appeals log.
Internal Moderation & Quality FileOwner · Moderator / SDP▾
Moderation Evidence
10% sampling matrix, HACCP/LOTO compliance sheets, SDP sign-off.
Final Accreditation Gateway
Issued by the accredited Skills Development Provider once internal moderation is signed off.
Provider submits declaration + PoE to the Assessment Quality Partner (AQP).
QCTO awards the SAQA-registered certificate on successful EISA outcome.
Audit & Compliance
Evidence & Audit Pipeline
From portfolio assembly to external sign-off — the exact route your evidence travels.
- Step 1
PoE Assembly
Learner evidence, formative records and logbook entries filed against the alignment matrix.
- Step 2
Internal Assessment
Registered assessor judges each KM/PM/WM outcome using the supplied instruments.
- Step 3
Internal Moderation
Sampling and verification of assessor decisions, with remediation loop before submission.
- Step 4
External Moderation
SETA/QCTO desktop audit and certification upload against registered credits.
Broken Standard vs i2Graduates Standard
The measurable delta between improvised material and an audit-ready suite.
Broken Standard
i2Graduates Standard
Curriculum Mapping
Photocopied guides with mismatched outcomes
8 KM + 5 PM + 3 WM modules mapped to NQF Level 5
Assessment Bank
Missing formative and summative assessments
Pre-validated assessment bank per module
Alignment Evidence
No alignment matrix — audit fails
TETA alignment matrix included
Facilitation
Facilitators improvise Shipping Agent delivery
Facilitator scripts + learner activities per credit
Portfolio of Evidence
PoE gaps flagged in moderation
PoE templates that survive external moderation
Pricing & Delivery Tiers
Base licence from R67 000
Digital Master Suite
Editable master files, licensed to your SDP
- Learner Guide, Facilitator Guide & Assessment Suite
- Workplace logbook + alignment matrix (editable)
- Instant digital delivery under institutional licence
- Free minor corrections for 12 months
Turnkey Print & Bound Package
Printed, bound and couriered per learner
- Everything in the Digital Master Suite
- Full-colour print, wire-bound learner packs
- Per-learner PoE folders and dividers
- Nationwide courier with tracked delivery
Full Enterprise Accreditation Bundle
Assets plus accreditation support end-to-end
- Everything in the Print & Bound Package
- Bespoke QMS build mapped to your scope
- Moderation dry-run + written remediation report
- Brand & metadata integration across the suite
Complementary Services
Optional add-ons that harden your accreditation scope before an external audit.
Bespoke QMS Build
We author your Quality Management System — policies, procedures, records, matrices — mapped to your accreditation scope. From R18,500.
Request QuoteModeration Consultation
External moderation dry-run on your PoE + delivery pack. Written report with fixes before your real audit. From R4,900.
Book Moderation SessionThe i2Graduates Quality Guarantee
Every page of this bundle is checked for sequence and structural accuracy — no missing pages, no shortcuts. You get pre-validated assessment instruments ready to survive rigorous compliance moderation, wrapped in a curriculum your facilitators will enjoy teaching.