The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is honoured to have participated in the 138th session of the IMO Council that took place on 02 to 06 November 2026, at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London.
South Africa is a member state of the IMO and was represented by the Alternate Permanent Representative of South Africa to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Mr Vusi September; a member of the SAMSA Board, Mr Sandile Keswa and the SAMSA CEO, Captain Dennis Mqadi.
Member States attending the Council considered key decisions on strengthening the Council’s Rules of Procedure, budget matters for the 2026-2027 biennium, enhancements to and the 2027 IMO Gender Equality Award.
It is important to note that South Africa is the only country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) that sits on the IMO Council and is dedicated to representing the SADC region and keeping it on the global maritime space.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is proud to have participated in the 2026 World Maritime Day Parallel event hosted in Busan, Republic of Korea, on 26 and 27 October 2026.
The World Maritime Day Parallel event put a spotlight on the work that the International Maritime Organization (IMO) does and brought together important maritime stakeholders, governments, international organisations, industry and academia to explore practical ways to put global maritime regulations into action.
The event was held under the theme ”From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence” with a strong call from maritime leaders to aim towards stronger national action and international cooperation to ensure global shipping regulations are effectively implemented.
Our CEO, Captain Dennis Mqadi attended the session to solidify the country’s dedication to aligning with international practices set by the IMO and to remain an active player within the industry.
South Africa is dedicated to continue to play its part in recognising the rapid changes in the industry such as digitalisation and automation and is actively seeking solutions to ensure that we build a maritime community ready to meet those changes.
This year, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) intentionally pursued an initiative with the intention to make meaningful change to our communities.
This heartfelt activation includes employee volunteerism where SAMSA employees across the regions packed meal packs to support vulnerable communities in need in line with the theme “It is in your hands”, which reminds us that combating poverty and inequity is everyone’s responsibility!
In total, 24 343 meal packs were packed by the SAMSA family, and have started distributing to the identified communities.
The distribution began in Port Nolloth where about 4 320 meals were handed over to the Port Nolloth Primary School. The primary school caters for learners from Grade R to Grade 7.
The distributions then went to a Gauteng Early Child Learning Development (ELCD) Centre. The centre received 7 063 meals providing much-needed support to the Soshanguve community.
We are proud of the SAMSA family for their dedication to uplifting communities and addressing food insecurity in vulnerable communities.
The distributions will continue throughout the country to truly make everyday a Mandela Day!
South Africa recently participated in the Test Biofouling Regional In-Water Cleaning Technology Demonstration and Workshop, that took place on 05 – 08 October in Cape Town, South Africa.
The workshop brought together maritime administrations, port authorities, environmental agencies, technical experts and other stakeholders from across the region.
The workshop explored the international framework for effective biofouling management and shared national experiences to hands-on technology demonstrations covering key elements of the in-water cleaning process; from inspection and cleaning to capture, filtration, verification and documentation.
The session also focussed on connecting the practical experiences with regulation and implementation, examining port and regulatory perspectives, institutional arrangements, and opportunities to strengthen national and regional approaches to environmentally responsible biofouling management.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) was honoured to have been a part of this session and was represented by Captain Ravi Naicker Naicker who gave a presentation on the Technical Foundations and Regional Context National Responsibilities for South Africa and Capt Neville Noble who delivered the closing remarks on behalf of the country.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is proud to have joined the second FAO International Course on the Coordinated Implementation of the Three Treaties that was recently hosted in Cape Town, South Africa.
The FAO International Course on the Coordinated Implementation of the Three Treaties is a strategic international capacity-building initiative that brings together maritime, fisheries and labour authorities from across Africa to strengthen the inspection and regulation of fishing vessels.
Our CEO, Captain Dennis Mqadi, with the members from the SAMSA EXCO attended the opening session to demonstrate the Authority’s support for this crucial programme. By hosting this programme, South Africa reinforces its leadership role in advancing maritime governance and strengthening Africa’s collective capacity to combat illegal fishing, improve safety at sea and protect those who work in the fishing industry.
The programme is coordinated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the International Labour Organization (ILO), the Abuja Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MoU) and other regional partners.
The course centres on the coordinated implementation of three landmark international instruments, namely the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C188), the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), 2009, and the IMO Cape Town Agreement (CTA), 2012. Together, these instruments seek to address three interconnected challenges affecting the global fishing sector.
The programme reflects a growing international recognition that maritime safety, labour standards and fisheries management can no longer be addressed in isolation. Instead, effective governance of the fishing sector requires integrated approaches that promote collaboration between maritime authorities, fisheries inspectors and labour regulators.
This week, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) completed 3 Business-to Business Stakeholder Sessions in regions across South Africa.
The interactive industry collaboration sessions began in Richards Bay, proceeded to Durban and then concluded in Port Elizabeth.
These sessions give our stakeholders access to the SAMSA leadership, including our CEO where issues that impact their business or experience overall can be tabled and addressed.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all those who gathered in conversation with us to witness first hand the positive change that is happening within the Authority, and invite you to continue to journey with us as we work towards improving how we serve you.
In March this year, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) launched its Maritime Industry Business-to-Business (B2B) Engagement Sessions designed to bridge the gap between SAMSA and Stakeholders within the sector.
When we launched the sessions, we promised to return in 6 months to give an update on the changes since the inaugural sessions. We have kept that promise by once again inviting our stakeholders to collaborative sessions with the SAMSA CEO, Captain Dennis Mqadi and members of the EXCO.
We commenced the sessions this morning in Richards Bay and will proceed to other port regions throughout the country to ensure that no one is left behind.
SAMSA believes that strengthening partnerships is key to navigating the future and we invite you on this journey with us as we rise to meet the demands of rapidly transforming maritime sector.
We look forward to building strategic partnerships to support the maritime sector as it evolves and grows.
On 07 October 2026, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reached a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey with the official launch of its Online Services Platform, an innovation set to enhance service delivery, improve accessibility and provide a more seamless experience for maritime stakeholders across South Africa.
The platform was officially launched in Cape Town by Captain Dennis Mqadi, Chief Executive Officer of SAMSA, who has consistently championed the modernisation and digitalisation of maritime regulatory services as a strategic priority for the Authority.
The SAMSA Online Services, a single digital gateway to the growing suite of SAMSA services represents a major step towards SAMSA’s vision of becoming a fully digital organisation capable of providing efficient, transparent and customer-centric services to seafarers, vessel owners, maritime institutions and other maritime stakeholders.
A key indicator of the value and relevance of SAMSA’s digital transformation programme has been the positive response from industry stakeholders.
The SAMSA Online Services Platform has been operational since July 2026 with two active modules, namely the Seafarer Services Portal and the Vessel Management System that have already recorded encouraging levels of user adoption and engagement.
The Authority encourages all maritime stakeholders to register on the platform and make use of the growing range of digital services available. Queries related to the system may also be handled digitally using the following link housed on the SAMSA website https://www.samsa.org.za/contact-us?section=query-form
This groundbreaking initiative is an enabler for a smarter, faster and more responsive maritime administration that supports the growth and competitiveness of South Africa’s maritime sector and our journey towards our goal of being a world-class safety and regulatory authority, championing South Africa’s global, regional and domestic maritime interests.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has initiated a preliminary enquiry following the fatal incident involving the tug Umkhuseli, which occurred approximately 47 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay in the morning of 30 September 2026.
The enquiry follows the actived Search and Rescue (SAR) operation coordinated by the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town. After an extensive search involving both air and surface rescue assets, three bodies were recovered, while two persons remain missing.
Preliminary information indicates that the incident began when a crew member reportedly fell overboard while working on deck. In response, a Fast Rescue Boat (FRB) carrying four crew members was launched from the vessel to recover the individual. The FRB subsequently capsized, resulting in a total of five persons entering the water.
Immediately following notification of the incident, MRCC Cape Town activated a coordinated SAR response, mobilising a range of maritime and aviation assets. Vessels in the vicinity were diverted to assist with the search, while rescue efforts were supported by the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) and the South African Police Services (SAPS) water wings and helicopter resources.
Following a comprehensive assessment of the search and rescue operation and consideration of all available information the active search and rescue was concluded.
SAMSA also extends its appreciation to all organisations and personnel who participated in the search and rescue operation, including the crews of the assisting vessels, aviation crews, rescue personnel, and the staff of MRCC Cape Town.
Further updates will be provided as and when information becomes available.
ENDS
Issued by: South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)
Media Enquiries: Corporate Affairs and Media Relations South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Email: mediaenquiries@samsa.org.za
The Vaal River came alive on 24 September 2026 as boating enthusiasts descended on Vanderbijlpark for the start of the Vaal River Boating Season.
The South African Maritime Safety Authority’s (SAMSA) Boating Unit, together with the Pretoria Operations, Certification Unit, and Corporate Affairs Centre were right there among them, conducting a safety awareness campaign and ad-hoc safety inspection amid dozens of boats out on the water.
With boats of every shape and size taking to the Vaal for the seasonal opening, the team seized the opportunity to engage directly with skippers, boat owners, and general members of the public, checking safety compliance and reminding the boating community that a great day on the water starts with the right precautions.
SAMSA’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), Mr Ndzimeni Ramugondo, joined the SAMSA team on the ground, trading the boardroom for the boat ramp for the day to get firsthand experience of a ride aboard a South African Police Service (SAPS) Water Wing vessel to observe safety checks around the river.
Ad-hoc safety inspections were carried out in collaboration with the SAPS Water Wing from Vanderbijlpark, whose presence on the water added an extra layer of oversight and reinforced the message that boating safety is a shared responsibility between SAMSA and law enforcement.
Together, the teams patrolled the river, engaging boaters and keeping a watchful eye over the day’s festivities. Running through the day’s safety awareness campaign was a theme to keep in mind for every skipper on South African waters: “Don’t Drink and Skipper (Drive) a Boat.”
With SAMSA and SAPS Water Wing out on the water together, the Vaal River Boating Season kicked off on a note of shared responsibility as SAMSA moves full speed with its safety awareness campaign aimed at South Africa’s inland waters.
