Benji Oliver studied extreme wave events as part of his Master’s and is now dedicated to finding methods to improve the wave forecast for South Africa’s major ports, with a view to improving the operations at ports. 

The young oceanographer applies mathematical modelling and numerical simulation to study the power of wave energy from the ocean and how it impacts the seaport and maritime industry.  

 Oliver is passionate about the impact that waves have on coastal communities. He joined the CSIR in 2022 as a junior numerical modeller. Prior to this, he made use of data obtained from the CSIR’s Waverider buoys for research undertaken as part of his Master’s degree. He completed his Master’s in physical oceanography at the University of Cape Town in 2021. 

“My thesis focused on variability and trends in the South African wave climate. I was inspired and keen to understand the driving factors involved in extreme wave events and their impacts on society,” he explains. 

Oliver is currently involved in researching methods to improve the wave forecast that is provided to South Africa’s major ports. The aim is to provide more reliable wave information. “ I am excited to be contributing towards investigating the impact of projected changes in the wave climate by 2100 on the country’s major ports,” he says. 

Oliver enjoys gaining a deeper understanding of ocean waves, and the potential to improve the port operations.   

In many communities, ports are significant sources of employment. Oliver feels that, “Ports are vital to the economy and sustainability of a country and its inhabitants, from the local to global level.”    

As a numerical modeller – contrary to popular belief – Oliver spends most of his time behind a computer screen and not at the ports. “My original attraction to this field of work came from my hobby, bodyboarding, and my desire to understand wave forecasts. Today, this research satisfies me academically and personally,” he says. 

The CSIR ensures that employees at all levels in the organisation are afforded opportunities to upskill themselves. Oliver says that the CSIR has not only supported him to grow as a young professional but has also encouraged and pushed him to learn the workings of various new wave modelling software and techniques through internal and external training programmes. He says that the main challenge he encounters is balancing accuracy and model resolution with computing time and numerical stability.   

Oliver looks forward to building his publication index and establishing himself as an expert in the field. And when it comes to which of South Africa’s eight ports he favours, he says, “I have a personal bias to the Port of Cape Town due to the impact its weather and wave data has had and continues to have on my daily life. “That being said, I have only been to three of our country’s eight ports, which I hope to change in future.”