Our featured contributor for this month is David Theron. He is an amateur radio operator managing four stations across South Africa, with his largest coverage station based in Napier (Station ID 6950). At 30 years old, he resides in Worcester, South Africa, and works as a fiber maintenance technician for an internet service provider.
Born deaf, David received a cochlear implant at the age of four, an experience that deepened his understanding of the importance of effective communication. Driven by a lifelong curiosity about alternative forms of communication, he earned his amateur radio operator’s license at 18, broadcasting under the call sign ZS1GA.
How David discovered MarineTraffic
A few years ago, David installed a Flightradar24 antenna on Theronsberg, achieving the third-best coverage in South Africa. While aviation has long been an interest of his, he’s equally passionate about maritime activity and the sea, which led him to volunteer with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI).
Seeing the essential service that Flightradar24 provides for aircraft sparked his curiosity about a similar tracking system for seagoing vessels. After some research, he discovered MarineTraffic and reached out, offering to help by installing antennas to aid maritime tracking. The setup process, communicated via email, was simple and straightforward. Within days, we sent him the necessary equipment at no cost, allowing him to make a valuable contribution to seafaring safety and vessel monitoring.
About the location - Elevated towers in South Africa
The company David works for maintains communication towers across the Western Cape, strategically positioned on high mountain peaks. After thorough research, he identified the optimal spots to install MarineTraffic antennas. Two of these installations, located in Lamberts Bay and Napier, provide excellent coverage and have proven highly effective for tracking seagoing vessels.
Separately, Banderas Bay has become a popular destination for cruising sailors during the winter. Arriving typically in November, they stay through the winter months, as the bay’s orientation makes it a natural hurricane hole, shielding it from Pacific hurricanes. Many sailors even keep their boats there through the summer and early fall, the area’s designated hurricane season, to benefit from the bay’s protective geography.
Insights and Advice
Being active in our communities is essential, and what better way to contribute than by helping vessels in distress?
Through my partnership with MarineTraffic, I’m also installing an antenna for FlightAware to support air traffic coverage. Collaboration and mutual assistance are key—it's up to all of us to lend a hand whenever we can.
— D. Theron
