The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) hosted an event highlighting its ongoing Fishing Vessel Safety Audit campaign on Monday, 23 June 2025, at the Cape Town Waterfront Jetty, drawing strong participation from stakeholders in the commercial fishing industry, government, and the media.

The event formed part of SAMSA’s four-month national initiative, launched in March 2025, aimed at enhancing safety standards, promoting regulatory compliance, and reducing incidents across South Africa’s fishing fleet.

Delivering the keynote address, the Deputy Minister of Transport, the Honourable Mkhuleko Hlengwa commended the initiative and reaffirmed government’s commitment to safeguarding the lives of those who work at sea.

The programme included a detailed update on the audit’s progress, stakeholder discussions on safety challenges, and a live vessel inspection demonstration by SAMSA’s maritime surveyors.

SAMSA Acting CEO, Mbalenhle Golding CA(SA), also highlighted the value of industry collaboration and said “The Fishing Vessel Safety Audit is more than a compliance exercise — it’s about saving lives. The fishing sector has responded positively, and we look forward to continued engagement as we roll out the audit nationwide.”

The annual IMO International day of the Seafarer will once again be commemorated on Wednesday, 25 June 2024 in 3 cities in South Africa, with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) hosting the Cape Town event.

This event provides an opportunity to celebrate and honour the vital contributions of seafarers to the global economy and maritime sector, while also raising awareness about their rights and welfare.

This year’s theme, “My Harassment-Free Ship,” is a bold call to action to foster a maritime culture of respect, dignity, and zero tolerance for bullying and harassment.

Day of the Seafarer 2025 is more than a celebration, it’s a commitment to ensuring every seafarer feels safe, valued, and empowered at sea. The 2025 Campaign will see the launch of an Interactive World Map, a powerful tool designed to support seafarers worldwide. This innovative resource provides flag state-specific information on policies, support networks, and reporting mechanisms, empowering seafarers to address harassment with confidence, no matter where they are.

Seafarers and the larger maritime community in Cape Town and surrounding areas who are interested in joining us for the event should do so by sending us a DM.

Please note that SAMSA will only be able to accommodate a few people due to the limited space available.

At the forefront of Africa’s Ocean advocacy, South Africa’s Mbalenhle Golding, Acting CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), delivered a compelling call to action at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) high-level event, “Sustainable Shipping: Our Ocean – Our Obligation – Our Opportunity”, held during the United Nations Oceans Conference.

Ms Golding highlighted the most pressing and often overlooked threats to marine ecosystems: Underwater Radiated Noise (URN). Her message was clear, safeguarding our oceans is not merely an environmental concern, but a socio-economic imperative for the continent and the world.

“URN is not just an environmental issue – it’s a socio-economic one, impacting marine life and the livelihoods of coastal communities.” – Mbalenhle Golding

Key Announcements from SAMSA:

– Draft URN Regulations Published: The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has released draft regulations for public comments, addressing URN under the environmental management of offshore bunkering, pursuant to the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008).

– Comprehensive National EIA on URN: A National Environmental Impact Assessment will be commissioned to fully assess URN’s impact on South Africa’s marine ecosystems.

– National Task Force on URN Established: South Africa has formally set up a dedicated task force to coordinate national responses and research efforts on URN.

– Call for Global Investment in GloNoise Partnership: SAMSA urges international stakeholders to invest in the IMO-led GloNoise Partnership to support innovative solutions to underwater noise pollution.

On the 10th of June 2025 at the 3rd UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3), co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, South Africa took the global stage to address a critical yet often overlooked threat to marine ecosystems—Underwater Radiated Noise (URN).

Representing the nation was the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), led by Acting CEO Ms. Mbalenhle Golding, who delivered a compelling intervention during a high-level session dedicated to URN. She reaffirmed South Africa’s support for the IMO GloNoise Partnership Project and showcased the country’s proactive efforts, including expanded EIA research and efforts to invest in real-time monitoring capabilities across our coastal and marine environments.

Key Highlights from the Session:
France spotlighted URN as a global environmental priority, with President Emmanuel Macron emphasizing its urgency during his keynote address.

Belgium, Canada, and the European Union echoed calls for binding international frameworks and science-based policies to mitigate URN.

Different experts underscored that commercial shipping is the primary contributor to URN, posing serious risks to marine biodiversity—especially species like whales, dolphins, and fish.

South Africa’s Commitment:
South Africa remains resolute in its commitment to advancing ocean health, aligning with SDG 14: Life Below Water. Through multilateral cooperation, technological innovation, and inclusive policymaking, the nation continues to lead efforts in the Global South to create quieter, more resilient oceans.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority’s (SAMSA) Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms Mbalenhle Golding participated in the UN Oceans Conference as a distinguished panellist in Nice, France, on 11 June 2025!

IMO, France & Costa Rica with FAO & UNDP led the side event titled: “Sustainable Shipping: Our ocean | Our obligation | Our opportunity”!

The robust discussions focussed on ocean governance, decarbonization and a greener future! This engagement is a significant contribution to the global discourse on sustainable maritime practices, marine ecosystem preservation, and the advancement of an inclusive blue economy.

Ms. Golding was joined by Mr. Malibongwe Ndlozi and Mr. Skhumbuzo Bhengu, forming part of the official South African delegation. South Africa remains unwavering in its dedication to responsible ocean governance and environmental stewardship within the maritime sector.

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) proudly participated in the Norway–Fiji–IMO Side Event at the UN Oceans Conference (UNOC2025), joining international partners to confront one of the most pressing threats to marine biodiversity: invasive aquatic species—primarily spread through ballast water and biofouling in global shipping operations.

The Global Challenge:
– 25% of marine invasive species introductions are linked to ballast water discharge.
– Over 35,000 alien species have been recorded worldwide—many transported through shipping.
– The need for binding international regulations is more urgent than ever.

In response, Canada, Fiji, Finland, France, Mexico, Norway, Peru, and the Republic of Korea jointly submitted a landmark paper calling for a legally binding framework for the control and management of ships’ biofouling. This proposal received key support at the IMO’s MEPC 83 meeting.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) reaffirmed its dedication to ocean protection through legal instruments and projects like the:
– GloFouling Partnerships Project
– GloBallast Partnerships Programme

As committed advocate for sustainable maritime practices, SAMSA supports:
– The adoption of legally binding IMO guidelines on biofouling management
– Stronger Port and Flag State obligations for invasive species control
– Enhanced regional cooperation to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species

A Call to Collective Action:
– Protecting our oceans is a shared global responsibility.
– To achieve sustainable oceans and a thriving blue economy, green and responsible shipping must lead the way.

World Oceans Day is celebrated worldwide on 8 June and looks to highlight the impact of human actions on the ocean, develop a worldwide movement of citizens for the ocean, and mobilise and unite the world’s population on a project for the sustainable management of the world’s oceans.

This year, the United Nations will host the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, starting from 9 – 13 June, 2025 under the theme “Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us”.

This World Oceans Day, the South African Maritime Safety Authority joins the world in celebrating the ocean’s essential wonder and supports the call on decision-makers to not lose sight of the ocean’s wonder when determining its fate.

For more, click on the following link Homepage – United Nations World Oceans Day.

The unique alignment of two major UN ocean events – the UN Oceans Conference and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) side event that will have representative from SAMSA is an unprecedented opportunity to amplify visibility and collaborative efforts for the ocean.

In addition to the IMO side event, the SAMSA delegation will participate in the following strategic forums:
– Ocean Rise & Coastal Resilience Summit – 7 June 2025
– Norway-Fiji-IMO Side Event aboard the historic Statsraad Lehmkuhl – 9 June 2025

South Africa remains unwavering in its dedication to responsible ocean governance and environmental stewardship within the maritime sector.

On 2 June 2025, the Acting CEO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Ms. Mbalenhle Golding, participated in a high-level Networking Breakfast hosted by the Kuehne Climate Center and GIZ at Café Paris in Hamburg.

Held on the sidelines of the Hamburg Sustainability Conference, the event brought together industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore the “Revolutionizing with Greener Reefer: Scaling Low-Emission Reefer Solutions”.

Ms. Golding was accompanied by Mr. Malibongwe Ndlozi, Acting Senior Manager in the Office of the CEO and Project Manager for Maritime Decarbonisation at SAMSA, and Mr. Skhumbuzo Bhengu, Acting Senior Manager for Maritime Research, who is leading SAMSA’s research, development, and implementation efforts in maritime decarbonisation.

As founding members of the Greener Reefer Transition Alliance, the hosts facilitated vibrant discussions focused on promoting natural refrigerants and energy-efficient solutions in refrigerated shipping. SAMSA’s participation reaffirmed South Africa’s strategic commitment to sustainable maritime innovation and global collaboration in tackling climate change in the maritime sector.