The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) with the support of the Department of Transport (DoT) hosted a two-day Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) Contingency Plan workshop on 23 and 24 April 2026 in Cape Town.

Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) are materials that, if accidentally released into the marine environment, can pose serious risks to human health, ecosystems, and maritime activities. With the growing volume of international trade and the frequent transport of chemical products by sea, the likelihood of HNS incidents has increased. Such emergencies require rapid, coordinated, and well-prepared responses to minimize environmental damage and protect public safety. Therefore, having a comprehensive HNS Contingency Plan is essential. It provides a structured framework for prevention, preparedness, and response, defining clear roles, communication procedures, and resource allocation among all relevant authorities and stakeholders.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. Domestically, the Constitution (Act No. 108 of 1996: Section 24 of the Bill of Rights): provides that everyone has a right to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being and to have the environment protected for the benefit of the present and future generations through reasonable legislative and other measures.

The government has a legal obligation to protect the environment through the development and the implementation of the Plan to fulfil this obligation amongst other statutory legislative measures put in place. These rights and obligations are embedded in the supreme law in South Africa, which is the Constitution and affords every citizen access to petition a competent court of law to hear the matter and enforce their rights or perceived violations.

This workshop on HNS Contingency Planning is key in ensuring that South Africa enhances its national capacities for preparedness and response to incidents involving Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS).

REVISED PRESS RELEASE

Cape Town | 28 April 2026

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirms that intensified efforts are underway to manage the maritime safety and environmental risks posed by the wreck of the fishing vessel FV De Fu No. 2, currently located offshore of the Western Cape.

The Taiwanese-flagged fishing vessel was abandoned following a fire incident in September 2025. Recent reports of wreckage sightings along the South African coastline prompted SAMSA, in cooperation with relevant national and international stakeholders, to activate an Incident Management System (IMS) to monitor the situation and mitigate potential risks.

Since the first confirmed sighting on 9 April 2026, a series of navigational warnings have been issued to vessels operating in the area. Ongoing response efforts have been informed by continuous drift modelling, satellite tracking, and visual confirmations by passing vessels and South African naval assets.

The salvage vessel Admiraal de Ruiter was deployed to the wreck and successfully installed marker buoys, fitted an AIS identification system, and secured a towing line. These measures ensured that control of the wreck was maintained while stakeholders within the IMS structure considered the most appropriate course of action.

As the condition of the wreck remained stable following the sighting, it was decided to move the vessel into a protected area off St Helena Bay. This allows for a comprehensive assessment by a specialist dive and salvage team to determine the most suitable method for the wreck’s final disposal.

The wreck has since been secured on an anchor spread, with multiple anchors deployed to prevent movement under forecast weather and sea conditions. The salvage vessel Sea Carrier remains on site and is fully equipped with diving support and pollution response capabilities.

SAMSA confirms that:

• The wreck has been positively identified and remains under the control of the salvage vessels and team.
• No pollution has been detected to date, and environmental monitoring continues.
• The wreck has been fitted with AIS and GPS tracking buoys to enable continuous location monitoring.
• Salvage and towage operations are being coordinated by the vessel’s Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurers in close consultation with SAMSA and relevant authorities.

SAMSA, together with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE), the South African Navy, the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), and other partners, continue to prioritise:

• Maritime safety
• Protection of the marine environment
• The safe and responsible resolution of the operation

Further updates will be provided as the situation develops or when key operational milestones are reached.

Issued by:
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)

It is important to note that these sessions were designed with our stakeholders in mind so that SAMSA could listen, understand the key challenges and to start crafting solutions to help serve you better and ensure that you receive what you need from us more timeously.

In case you missed it, here is a quick recap of all the 8 Maritime Business-to-Business Stakeholder Sessions that were held:

The sessions began in Saldanha Bay on 03 March 2026, then moved on to Cape Town, Mossel Bay, Richards Bay, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and finally to Pretoria on Tuesday, 07 April 2026.

The message throughout the sessions is very clear, all of our stakeholders and regions are important – whether you are a small or large business, located near a large or small port or are focussed on smaller inland waterways such as dams.

You will be pleased to learn that SAMSA, under the leadership of Captain Dennis Mqadi is already doing a lot of work in the background like the inclusion of new digitalised systems that the stakeholders who joined us for the Pretoria session were invited to test.

We are grateful to all those who took time out of their diaries to come and have a conversation with us, and look forward to building strategic partnerships to support the maritime sector as it evolves and grows.

The seminar held in Durban, South Africa is organised by the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMU) in collaboration with the South African Maritime Safety Authority.

The week-long seminar’s opening was attended by the SAMSA CEO, Captain Dennis Mqadi, the Deputy Director General (Maritime Transport) at the Department of Transport, Mr Mthunzi Madiya, the IOMU Secretariat Mr. Achintya B. Dutta, and various Port State Control Officers began on Monday 13 April and will conclude on Friday 17 April 2026.

The objective of the seminar is to provide opportunity for senior PSC officers in southern Africa to update their knowledge and share their experiences and expertise on PSC so as to promote closer co-operation and harmonization on PSC throughout the region.

Participants in the advanced course would extend the knowledge gained from the course to other PSC officers in their respective Authorities, thus making the programme more meaningful and effective.

We are also confident that the expertise shared in the seminar will help strengthen the safety net across the Indian Ocean as well as contribute to a more resilient regional and global maritime system.

On 01 April 2026, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) celebrates 28 years of existence since its establishment on 01 April 1998.

As we honour this incredible milestone, we unveil our new vision that speaks directly to the future of SAMSA: “To be a world-class safety and regulatory authority, championing South Africa’s global, regional and domestic maritime interests!”

We are very excited to continue to journey with you, whilst we sail forward on more stable waters to build a SAMSA that is passionate about carrying out its mandate under the SAMSA Act 5 of 1998 to:
· Ensure safety of life and property at sea;
· Prevent and combat pollution from ships in the marine environment; and
· Promote the Republic’s maritime interests.

As we mark this birthday anniversary, let us honour the past 28 years not only by celebrating our achievements, but by forging ahead with renewed commitment and purpose. With your support, we will continue to put maritime safety, sustainability, and excellence at the heart of everything we do.

Happy Birthday SAMSA and here’s to many more years of navigating towards Maritime Excellence!

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