UPDATE: Search in Indian Ocean for seafarer fallen overboard called off: SAMSA

*_{Image of the Chinese bulk carrier, M/V Rui Ming involved in a search for one of its crew members believed to have fell overboard in the Indian Ocean in the early hours of Friday. (}*_{Photo supplied}₎

Pretoria: 10 May 2024

UPDATE: 21h00

The search for a seafarer reported to have gone overboard a Chinese bulk carrier some 345 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean, south east of Durban, South Africa; has been called off, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) Cape Town confirmed late on Friday.

This was after a few vessels joined the Chinese bulk carrier, the M/V Rui Ming from which the seafarer reportedly gone overboard was a crew member, assisted with the search to no avail, said the MRCC Cape Town.

Late afternoon on Friday, the MRCC said: “MRCC Cape Town had released all the other vessels, except the MAERSK TAIKUNG, to continue with normal sailing operations after sunset in the search area at approximately 16:30.

“A revised track search plan was provided to the MAERSK TAIKUNG and it was completed by approximately 20:00. Unfortunately, the crewman that had gone overboard was not found.

“MRCC Cape Town released the MAERSK TAIKUNG to continue with normal sailing operations. Our thanks to the vessels that had responded to assist, and to Telkom Maritime Radio for their communication assistance.

” The SAR case is closed.’

End

A search is currently underway in the Indian Ocean for a seafarer reportedly gone overboard at a location approximately 345 nautical miles south east of the city of Durban, South Africa, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has reported.

In a report, the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) based at the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response) in Cape Town said the incident came to light early morning on Friday after the interception of a distress call from a Chinese bulk carrier, the M/V Rui Ming; requesting assistance with a search for one of its crew members believed to have gone overboard.

“The South African Search and Rescue Organization’s Maritime Search and Rescue Coordination Centre based in Cape Town (MRCC Cape Town) was notified by Telkom Maritime Radio around 06:00 on 10 May 2024 of a Man Overboard (MOB) reported by the Bulk Carrier RUI NING 21.

“It was established that the person was last seen up to 04 hours before the MOB was reported and it could not be confirmed that he was wearing a life jacket.

“The search area was defined as the track between the position of where the MOB was reported, approximately 665km east-south-east from Durban, and the estimated position of where the person was last seen given that the person could have gone overboard anywhere along that track.

“A request for vessel to divert and assist in the search for the person in water (PIW) was issued by Telkom Maritime Radio as requested by MRCC Cape Town. The motor vessels (MV) MAERSK TAIKUNG and CMA CGM GALAPGOS were requested to divert to search area. The car carrier RORO BESS, in response to the MAYDAY Relay, notified the MRCC that it had diverted to the search and was ready to assist.

“MRCC Cape Town assigned track-line search patterns to each of the four (4) vessels. The weather is forecasted to be wind Northerly up to 24km/h and sea swell of up to 2.5m.

“At present, no sighting of the PIW was reported, and the MRCC is investigating alternate search efforts,” said the MRCC Cape Town.

End.

It’s all systems go for bunkering services in South Africa: SAMSA

Pretoria: 05 May 2024

Ships bunker services provision in South Africa – inclusive of off-shore operations – is well on track, with applications, approvals and issuance of licenses currently being managed expeditiously, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has confirmed.

However, according to SAMSA’s Acting CEO, Mr Tau Morwe, operators have to ensure that they are compliant with requirements of SAMSA as well as both the South African Revenue Services (SARS) and the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

Mr Morwe made the confirmation on the status quo of bunkering services in South Africa during a day long maritime sector bunkering services roundtable meeting attended by about 80 people in Durban on Tuesday. (30 April 2024).

Representatives included industry principals, primarily ship owners and agents and some of whom are active bunkering services providers, state officials from Treasury, SARS, the Department of Transport, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment, TNPA, Ports Regulator South Africa and SAMSA; ship-to-ship services providers and interested or affected parties – among them, environmental groups – as well as delegates from Mauritius, Mozambique and Namibia.

Mr Morwe’s remarks came in the wake of an apparent entrenching confusion or misunderstanding in the country’s maritime sector about the real state of bunkering services provision and administration, this coming in the wake of a clampdown by SARS on certain operators related to taxation issues during the latter part of 2023, as well as a ‘moratorium’ said to have been placed on the issuing of licences.

Flanked by Mr Mahesh Fakir, the chairperson of SAMSA’s Board of Directors, in his closing remarks of the gathering, Mr Morwe stated: “Where SAMSA stands is that applications for off shore bunkering, in terms of Section 21 (1) b (Prevention and Combating of Pollution of the Sea by Oil Act. 1981) is in process. Anyone can make the application.

“The TNPA and SAMSA are agreed on the continued processing of applications. However, in the processing of the applications, we remind applicants that we are not the only regulator, and they (applicants), have to tick the TNPA box, ensure that they are compliant with SARS. If that is in place, there is nothing preventing applicants or operators from conducting business. That is the state of affairs.”

“… there is nothing that says the business (of bunkering) is closed. I repeat, anyone wanting to apply for an operator license may do so. Tick the SARS box, tick the TNPA box!” said Mr Morwe.

For his full remarks, click on the video below.

_{Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting CEO making his closing remarks at the SAMSA organised Maritime Sector Bunkering Services Round Table Event held in Durban on Tuesday, 30 April 2024 .}

Meanwhile, for a complete coverage of the SAMSA organised Maritime Sector Bunkering Services Round Table event in Durban on Tuesday last week, this blog captured as best it could the meetings’ proceedings as presented below. The only record unavailable, due in part to technology limitations, is that of regulators from Mauritius, Namibia and Mozambique who all were planned to make a virtual appearance online.

Key take-aways:

Bunkering along with related ship-to-ship transfers services have a long history in South Africa and remain a major business and economic opportunity for sustained expoitation, given the country’s almost perfect geolocation at the foot of the African continent, with an ocean space global shipping corridor that is equidistant between western and eastern countries.
With expansion of particularly bunkering services to off shore, notably in Algoa Bay since 2016, the regulatory domain has lagged behind for clarity, leading to disruption and confusion as evidenced by a 2023 SARS clampdown on some operators in Algoa Bay due to taxation related matters
The haitus has led to vast loss of business opportunity and income in the past few years especially since the break-out of strife and wars affecting major shipping lines in the Middle East and eastern Europe and which led to an increase in shipping traffic sailing along the Cape of Good Hope ocean corridor.
SARS related regulations are in the process of being finalised and should soon be operational.
Going forward, SAMSA, the TNPA and SARS are the key (but not exclusive) state institutions whose regulations operators – current or aspirant – must comply with.
Overall, there is an agreed need both by the relevant state institutions (SAMSA, TNPA, SARS, Ports Regulator, DFFE) and the private sector for closer cooperation and collaboration between the regulatory institutions, as well as about ongoing engagement and interaction with all stakeholders and interested parties in the maritime sector.
A commitment is reached that established forums in the bunkering subsector as well as periodic maritime sector and regulators roundtable meetings shall continue into the future.

In the package below, in the order of their appearance and presentations, first up are Welcoming and Opening Remarks by Mr Morwe and Mr Fakir respectively, in which they broadly outline the standpoint of SAMSA on the state of bunkering administration in South Africa.

_{Mr Tau Morwe, SAMSA Acting CEO making his welcoming remarks.}

_{Mr Mahesh Fakir, SAMSA Board chairperson making his opening remarks.}

Next are representatives of the Ports Regulator, TNPA and SAMSA on the status quo of bunkering services.

_{Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) presentation}

^{Ports Regulator SA presentation}

_{South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) presentation}

Following are representatives of the Treasury, SARS and the DFFE on “Government on bunkering risk, opportunities and enablement.”

_{Treasury Department presentation}

_{South African Revenue Service (SARS) presentation}

^{Department of Forestry, Fisheries & Environment presentation}

_{Question & Answers Session 1}

Finally, below – in no particular order – are representatives of industry (including the South African Association of Ship Owners and Agents (SAASOA), on their own individual and group perspectives, afterwhich a final Question and Answer Session ensues.

_{Mr Dan Ngakane, CEO of Amsol.}

_{Mr Peter Besnard, CEO of SAASOA}

_{Mr Kurt Theunis: Linsen-Nambi Bunkering Services}

_{Mr Stuart Klapprott: MOL Chemical Carriers}

^{Ms Nomkhitha Mbele: James Fisher Fender Care}

_{Question & Answers Session 2}

End.

Search for yet another fishing vessel crew member called off near Mossel Bay; condolences extended to Namibian family: SAMSA

Pretoria: 02 May 2024

The Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) Cape Town based Centre for Sea Watch & Response (CSW&R) has extended its condolences to the Namibian family of a fisherman who reportedly went overboard a fishing vessel and presumed dead in South African sea waters on Monday this week.

The sorrowful statement by MRCC Cape Town came with confirmation on Wednesday that a day and night search for the seafarer had been abandoned, with little or no hope of his recovery.

According to the MRCC Cape Town, this was a tragic end to yet another incident in this south-western ocean region of South Africa where, in a space of two weeks, yet another fisher disappeared into the ocean after reportedly falling overboard a fishing vessel.

In an earlier incident on or about 19 April 2024, a skipper of a rigid-hulled inflatable boat (RHIB)was confirmed to have passed away after the watercraft in which he was sailing along with two (2) others, reportedly capsized after it was hit by a huge wave at sea in a location of approximately 1.5 nautical miles south of Oliphantsbospunt in the Western Cape.

Shortly after that incident, on 26 April 2024, another fishing vessel, named FV Oceana Amethyst, with 22 crew members onboard, also reportedly experienced problems while out at sea in a location of approximately 20 nautical miles west north- west of Slangkoppunt also in the Western Cape. such that it sank almost immediately due to water intake that reportedly started sipping through its engine room. Fortunately, during that incident, all 22 crew members were rescued on time.

Regarding the latest incident involving the Namibian fisherman, the MRCC said on Tuesday that the casualty occurred on Sunday, 28 April 2024 and shortly after which efforts also involving other nearby vessles, were made to assist the crew of the FV SEAWIN DIAMOND, while out at sea in an ocean location of approximately 142 nautical miles south of Mossel Bay.

“MRCC Cape Town was notified at 22:41 on 28 April by Telkom Maritime Radio of a Man Overboard (MOB) reported by the FV SEAWIN DIAMOND. The vessels position was reported to be approximately 142 NM South from Mossel Bay,” said the MRCC on Wednesday.

It said: “Whilst the vessel was busy setting fishing gear, the captain was alerted by the crew of the MOB incident and a MOB Marker buoy was deployed.

“The Namibian citizen was last seen wearing oil skin and boots but not a life jacket. The casualty vessel tracked the marker buoy in an effort to find the person in water (PIW). An observation of something green, presumed to be an oil skin, was seen disappearing under water but it could not be confirmed to be the PIW.

“A MAYDAY Relay was issued by MRCC Cape Town through Telkom Maritime Radio wherein vessels were requested to divert and render assistance in search of the PIW. The FV BLUEBELL was requested to divert to the reported incident from a position 67NM to the West.

“MRCC Cape Town developed a search area, based on the environmental factors and the time it would take the BLUEBELL to arrive at the incident location, and assigned a relevant search pattern.

“The Search Action Plan was communicated to the BLUEBELL, and it conducted a search along the drift track of the MOB buoy while proceeding to the assigned commence search point. MRCC Cape Town was notified by sunset on 29 April that the BLUEBELL and the SEAWIN DIAMOND had completed their search assignments, with MRCC Cape Town issuing revised search instructions to both vessels in preparation for a nighttime search.

“The nighttime search efforts had to be abandoned due to the lack of night search capabilities of both fishing vessels. MRCC Cape Town requested the frequency of the MAYDAY Relay broadcasted by Telkom Maritime Radio to be increased in the hope that additional resources shall respond.

“With no response to the MAYDAY Relay by 06:00 on 30 April 2024, the distress message was downscaled to an urgency message notifying vessels of the probable search area wherein sightings relating to the missing crewman could be made.

“Unfortunately, by 18:00 on 30 April 2024, with no additional information or sighting reports, all SAR efforts were cancelled with the missing person presumed drowned,” reported the MRCC Cape Town.

The centre added: “MRCC Cape Town expresses condolences to the family and friends of the missing crew member.”

End

SAMSA hosts a bunkering stakeholder engagement roundtable Tuesday with maritime industry key role figures

Pretoria: 25 April 2024

South Africa’s maritime bunkering services subsector comes under national focus on Tuesday, 30 April 2024, wherein government, relevant state institutions, industry representatives, as well as interested parties will gather in Durban for a round table discussion to chart a way forward for the sector, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

Among notable participants earmarked for this event will be representatives of various stakeholders, including – from government – the Office of the Presidency, the Minister of Transport, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), the Ports Regulator, SAMSA, the South African Revenue Services (SARS); private sector maritime industry principals, as well as international delegates from neighbouring Mozambique and Namibia.

According to SAMSA, the bunkering sector roundtable event’s aim is to facilitate a direct engagement and interaction among key stakeholders for a discussion and sharing of views on matters impacting the subsector, as well as development of possible solutions to ongoing challenges as a way forward.

For specifically SAMSA, the entity says; the event will facilitate it an opportunity to provide clarity on pertinent issues, and among which is its specific role pertaining to bunkering business operations.

SAMSA intends to also provide clarity regarding an enduring misunderstanding over a ‘moratorium’ on bunkering that SAMSA management says it had initially explained to industry through at least two Maritime Information Notices.

Also, with offshore bunkering in Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape province, also currently halted since about late 2023 due to taxation related matters between bunkering services providers operating here and SARS, Tuesday’s event, says SAMSA; may facilitate provision of further clarity on where matters stand currently with regards new bunkering sector related regulations recently published by SARS for public input.

The DFFE is also anticipated to enrich the discussions with information pertaining to environmental protections measures involving bunkering and offshore STS services.

According to SAMSA the roundtable event in Durban on Tuesday comes at a time when bunkering services, now inclusive of offshore ship-to-ship transfers have significantly advanced the trajectory of shipping transport in the country – and an economic activity the entity says it is committed to ensuring its future sustainability.

The Department of Transport (DoT) entity is responsible for regulations that govern bunkering services, inclusive of issuing licences, under four pieces of enabling legislation. These include the Marine Pollution (Civil and Control Liability) Act 1981, the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships Act of 1986, the Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability Convention) Act 2013 and the Maritime Zones Act 1994.

In SAMSA’s view, South Africa’s geolocation at the southern tip of the African continent, equidistant between western and eastern continents through a sea channel constituted by three oceans, the Indian, Southern, and Atlantic Oceans, places the country in an advantageous position for extensive bunkering services to the world’s ship transport fleet.

By SAMSA’s own account, no less than 9 000 vessels per month pass through this ocean corridor, and along which its 3200km coastline nestles no less than eight (8) modern commercial ports through which trade goods destined for South Africa and the southern African region are handled.

According to SAMSA, with the expansion of bunkering services through introduction of offshore services in Algoa Bay, Eastern Cape province in April 2016, the subsector has since generated and injected millions of rands to the local economy.

In this period, three (3) licensed operators deployed a fleet of twelve [12] bunker vessels and from whose operations -involving as much as of 4, 3-million metric tons of fuel sold – flowed substantial economic contribution to the area and central to which was the development of dozens of small to medium enterprises that in turn, contributed to generation of no less than 300 direct jobs.

These included shipping agents, shipping chandlers, OPL launch boat owners, diving services providers, oil spill response services, bunker surveyors, accommodation services providers and numerous others.

SAMSA also indicates, however, that the with expanded bunkering services to include offshore ship to ship services, so also increased exponentially risks to the environment inclusive of wildlife.

The risks associated directly with both the increase in vessel traffic anchoring locally for bunkering services, as well as incidents of potential and actual oil spills.

Notably, according to SAMSA, there has been four (4) oil spills recorded involving about 1,6 tons of fuel that impacted the local ocean environment in Algoa Bay, Gqeberha, and the last of which was in May 2022.

To mitigate against this aspect and find balance to enhancement of both the massive economic opportunity but also the strict protection of the environment, SAMSA led initiatives falling within the scope of its own mandate, for the development of appropriate bunkering services management measures.

Among these were the introduction of the South African Bunkering Code of Practice and Ship-to-Ship Codes of Practice for use as guidelines to services providers, as well as the formation of an Offshore Operations Stakeholder Forum (OOSF) with three working groups focussed on environment, industry development as well technical aspects of the bunkering services subject.

On Tuesday’s event in Durban, SAMSA says the platform is reflective and exemplary of its unwavering commitment to work closely with maritime industry stakeholders in pursuit for fulfilment of its mandated objective to ensure effective sustainable safety measures to protect life and property at sea, prevent and combat pollution of the sea environment by the ships, and promote South Africa’s maritime interests.

“This event will also serve as a platform for sharing knowledge, debating critical issues, and charting a forward-looking course for bunkering activities in South Africa as well as those that are in hindsight,” said SAMSA.

End.

Validity period for Small Interim Vessels Certificate of Competency extended by a year, while the authority resolves challenges affecting issuance: SAMSA.

_{Validity period for Small Vessel Interim Certificates of Competency expiring on or after 31 July 2023 extended to 31 March 2025, SAMSA announces in a Marine Information Notice (MN 06-24) published on Monday . (Photo: SAMSA File)}

Pretoria: 22 April 2024

The Small Vessel Interim Certificates of Competency, issued in accordance with the Merchant Shipping National Small Vessel Safety Regulations 2007, as amended, have been granted an extension of validity until 31 March 2025, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) announced on Monday.

SAMSA, in a Marine Information Notice (MIN 06-24) issued on Monday morning in Pretoria, said the extension applies to interim certificates expiring on or after 31 July 2023. The MIN – a standard industry notification bulletin – issues on Monday, replaces a previous notice (MIN 11-23) and provides information on the background, challenges faced by SAMSA in processing applications, and the extended validity period for the certificates.

According to the notice, the validity period for Small Vessel Interim Certificates of Competency is six (6) months. However, according to the bulletin issued on Monday, the interim certificates issued by SAMSA, appointed small vessel examiners, or accredited institutions that expire on or after 31 July 2023 have been further extended until 31 March 2025.

Giving a background to the latest development, SAMSA says: “SAMSA experienced small vessel examiners as from the month of April 2023 that affected the turnaround time for processing of all applications for Small Vessel Certificates of Competency.

“At that time, SAMSA anticipated that the time the operations would have been restored to process all the outstanding applications, but that has not been the case. SAMSA continues to put all measures in place to ensure that the systems are fully operational to process all the applications of Small Vessel Certificates of Competency. This Marine Information Notice is a replacement of MIN 11-23 until such time that all applications affected are fully processed.

The entity states that certificates affected by the extension “..must be kept on board the vessel along with the Marine Information Notice (MIN) and will be accepted as valid by enforcement officers, gatekeepers, or officials.

Meanwhile, SAMSA said it was working hard to restore full operational capacity and processing of all outstanding applications affected by the delays.

The Marine Information Notice will be available on SAMSA’s web page shortly (www.samsa.org.za)

End

Meaningful stakeholder engagement key to recent successful revision of national small vessels safety regulation: SAMSA

*_{SAMSA Boating unit manager, Ms Debbie James (front) addressing delegates during one of four boating community consultative meetings earlier this year. (Photo: SAMSA File)}*

Pretoria: 22 April 2024

A recent successful revision of the country’s Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessels Safety) Regulations, 2007 has once more highlighted the singular high significance of a meaningful stakeholder engagement and interaction, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).

The revisions to the regulations, led by the SAMSA Centre for Boating, and gazetted in February for public comment by mid-March 2024, “reflect a concerted effort to address emerging challenges (in the subsector) and to ensure the safety of small vessels – both seagoing and on sheltered waters,” said Ms Debbie James, the head of the boating unit.

The revised Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessels Safety) Regulations 2024 is an improvement on those first adopted in 2007 and cover a wide range of small vessels safety issues inclusive of safety certification, vessel safety requirements, crewing, training, specifical provisions for unregistered pleasure vessels, supplemental delegated powers to agencies and related, admistrative arrangements, as well as other relevant matters.

The gazetting of the proposed revisions to the regulations on 16 February 2024 (Government Gazette Number 50129 and Notice Number R.4374) was followed by an extensive consultation of the boating community countrywide from 27 February to 08 March – beginning with Cape Town (Western Region), followed by Durban (Eastern Region) on 01 March, Gqeberha (Southern Region) on 05 March and finally, Pretoria (Northern Region) on 08 March.

In the meantime, generally, according to SAMSA, the public had until 17 March 2024 to submit comment on the proposed revision.

*_{Boating community members during one of four consultative meetings on the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessels Safety) Regulations 2007 revision held in February and March 2024.}* *_{(Photo: SAMSA File)}*

Giving a background to what sparked the initiative, said Ms James: ” During October 2021, a large inland water houseboat, caught fire. The vessel was burnt down to the waterline in a matter of minutes, and the fire claimed the lives of three people. The incident sparked a need for a concentrated inspection campaign to take place on all passenger and commercial vessels country wide.

“After having inspected over 200 commercial vessels during this concentrated inspection campaign, it was apparent the need for an update to the National Small Vessel Regulations. In a significant step towards enhancing small vessel safety standards, the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2007 has undergone a comprehensive update.

“An extensive consultation process, which involved key stakeholders from the small vessel industry and relevant governing bodies, played a pivotal role in shaping the amendments to the existing regulations.

“In total, 120 people attended the sessions, and these sessions provided a platform for constructive dialogue, enabling stakeholders to voice concerns, propose recommendations, and contribute valuable insights based on their expertise and experiences,” said Ms James

By working collaboratively with stakeholders and leveraging the latest advancements in safety standards, the regulations aim to safeguard lives, protect the environment, and ensure the sustainable growth of small vessel operations in national waters.

She further pointed out that: “As the small vessel fraternity continues to evolve, the updated Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations underscore the commitment of regulatory authorities to prioritize safety, promote best practices, and foster a culture of compliance within the maritime industry.

“The successful revision of the regulations serves as a testament to the collective efforts from external stakeholders, SAMSA Officials which include the Maritime Legislation unit, Surveyors, Technical Support Unit and Boating unit among other SAMSA officials have worked tirelessly to facilitate the revision process from inception to fruition.

“Once again, we extend our gratitude for the presence of stakeholders during the consultation sessions,” said Ms James.

Meanwhile, on actual work on the ground to enhance the safety boating, a launch and deployment of a specially trained SAMSA Enforcement Officers comprising an initial 95 officers on waterways and slipways countrywide proved worthwhile, according to the SAMSA Boating unit. To read more this, Click here.

End

A search for a seafarer reportedly gone overboard a trade vessel in Indian Ocean continues: SAMSA.

*_{Photo image, courtesy of Marine Traffic website.}*

Pretoria: 16 April 2024

A desperate sea search for a seafarer believed to have gone overboard off a trade vessel in the Mozambique channel continued overnight on Monday, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) reported on Tuesday.

According to the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) based at the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch and Response in Cape Town, the search for the seafarer, a crew member of a bulk carrier named KAVO PERDIKA, ensued early on Monday after the vessel reported the crew member as missing and suspected to have gone overboard.

Shortly thereafter, two other vessels sailing in the vicinity were summoned for assistance and soon joined the search, but without success, and had since been released to continue with their respective journeys, while the casualty vessels remains in search of the crew member.

Said SAMSA: “MRCC Cape Town was notified by Telkom Maritime Radio around 10am of a Man Overboard (MOB) distress alert received from the Bulk Carrier KAVO PERDIKA and that the MV MEGHNA PRESTIGE was assisting with search efforts.

“The vessel was reported to be in a position approximately 300km north-east from Inhambane in the Mozambican channel. It was reported to MRCC Cape Town that the 37-year-old Ukrainian was last seen around 5am, not wearing a life jacket. Shortly thereafter only his slippers and cigarettes were found where he was last seen.

“A MAYDAY Relay, being a RCC request for immediate SAR assistance, was issued on the request of MRCC Cape Town through Telkom Maritime Services.

“The casualty vessel, KAVO PERDIKA, had reverted back to the position where it was reported to the captain, that the crewman was missing. This position, being approximately 300km north-east from Inhambane in the Mozambican channel, was approximately three (3) hours’s sailing from the position where the crewman was last seen.”

The MRCC said due to the MAYDAY Relay, the MV UMM AL AMAD, responded and diverted to assist in the search efforts.

“After evaluating the facts, factors, possibilities, and probabilities, considering the environmental factors of south-easterly winds at approximately 40km/h, a south-south-easterly sea swell of up to 3m and a strong south-westerly sea current, search patterns were assigned to three (3) different search craft.

“By sunset today (Monday), all the craft had completed their assigned search patterns without the crewman being found. The casualty vessel KAVO PERDIKA, had been given another search pattern whilst the UMM AL AMAD and the MEGHNA PRESTIGE were released by the SAR Mission Coordinator to continue with normal operations.

“The SAR response shall be evaluated when the KAVO PERDIKA completed the latest search pattern. MRCC Cape Town requested an urgency message requesting vessels to recover and report the crewman if sighted along the predicted search track. This urgency message shall remain affective until 16:00 after which all search efforts shall be discontinued, pending additional information to motive the continuing of the search efforts.”

According to SAMSA, the MRCC Cape Town having also noted the proximity of the sea area of the incident to neighbouring Mozambique, “…. attempted to hand over the Search and Rescue coordination for the MOB to MRCC Maputo without success.

“Thus, MRCC Cape Town continued coordinating the SAR response as a Regional MRCC South Africa aligned with the multi-lateral SAR agreement.”

End.

South Africa’s Department of Employment & Labour joins forces with SAMSA and others to bolster sound working conditions for the country’s commercial fishing sector workers – with forced labour an immediate target.

Gqeberha: 14 April 2024

South Africa may be acknowledged globally as being among leading maritime countries with advanced standards for sound labour working conditions in its commercial fishing subsector, but the country is not about to let up.

Instead, armed with a basket of laws, regulations, and international conventions; moves are foot to strengthen its work on the regulation and maintenance of sound labour working conditions for the country’s commercial fishing sector, now undertaken jointly through enhanced coordination, consolidation and collaboration involving three key state departments.

These include the Department of Transport (DoT) through the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment and – for the first time – the Department of Employment and Labour (DEL) as well as the South African International Maritime Institute (SAIMI), the latter responsible for seafarers training.

This emerged this past week in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape province, where 30 officials from the various state departments, inclusive of SAMSA and SAIMI, were taken through a three-day capacity building course on detection of forced labour on board fishing vessels, conducted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The ILO is a sister United Nations (UN) organisation to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).

It was during this gathering at the Nelson Mandela University’s Ocean Sciences Campus – from 09-11 April 2024 – where it was divulged for the first time that South Africa’s DEL is in the process of finalising and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SAMSA to facilitate the active ongoing engagement of DEL officials in labour related matters in the country’s commercial fishing subsector, inclusive of vessels inspections.

The MOU between DEL and SAMSA, it emerged, is intended to both facilitate the harmonious regulation of labour working conditions under a set of DEL’s basket of labour legislation – such as the Basic Conditions of Employment Act, Labour Relations Act and related – with those provided for by the Merchant Shipping Act administered by SAMSA, as well as to bolster the number of inspectors.

According to both SAMSA and DEL officials present at the training workshop in Gqeberha, the MoU is due to be signed soon.

The officials from the respective entities included SAMSA Chief Operations Officer, Mr Sobantu Tilayi, and DEL’s Director for Advocacy and Stakeholder Relations in the Inspections and Enforcement Directorate, Dr Pravine Naidoo, in the company of DFFE’s Deputy Director in the Chief Directorate for Monitoring, Control and Surveillance, Ms Delricia Augustus, and ILO South Africa based officials, Mr Simphiwe Mabhele and Ms Resh Mehta.

On the three-day course for the 30 government officials on detection of forced labour on commercial fishing vessels, all the officials held the same opinion that this was an acute problem even in South Africa, although evidence remained largely anecdotal.

However, reliance on anecdotal evidence should come to and end before year-end as the ILO in South Africa is currently conducting a thorough study of the country’s commercial fishing sector to establish some baseline information on both its size as well as activities.

According to the ILO, the fishing sector globally has a high prevalence of forced labour, with an estimated 128,000 fishers trapped in forced labour at any given time.

Apparently, key contributing factors to the malaise of rights violations in the fisheries sector involve the combination of weaknesses in the labour inspection regime, poor working conditions, and overlapping legislation, sometimes leading also to labour exploitation involving non-payment of wages, excessive working hours, and inadequate safety measures.

South Africa ratified the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188), which sets international labour standards for fishing vessels and fishers and was among the first countries globally to implement it.

The ILO’s Capacity Building Programme aims to strengthen the capacity of the South African government, SAMSA, DFFE, and DEL inspectors to detect and identify forced labour on fishing vessels.

The training components included sessions on international labour standards, identification of forced labour indicators, links between illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and forced labour, inspection protocols, and the collection of evidence.

The 30 officials attending the ILO course were taken through various aspects of both international and domestic law, and current best practices in forced labour detection. Presentations by subject experts in the field included:

South Africa’s national legislations applicable to fishing sector labour
Forced labour identification tools and inspection protocols,
Links between forced labour, human trafficking, and human smuggling in the fishing sector
Non-government allies in forced labour identification
Communicable and non-communicable diseases on board fishing vessels
The piloting of the South African Stardard Operating Procedures (SOP) and referral mechanism

With the course underway at NMU, this blog took advantage of the presence of the various officials and conducted a series of interviews with each of available officials present at the Ocean Sciences Campus.

In addition to his opening remarks of the training workshop (video below) we chatted with Mr Tilayi from SAMSA (last video below) for insights into both the significance of the soon to be entered into MOU with the DEL as well as ongoing training of SAMSA surveyors involved in the commercial fishing subsector. For his views, please click on last video below.

_{An opening address by Mr Sobantu Tilayi. SAMSA COO}

DFFE’s Ms Delricia Augustus (video below) elaborated on the role of the department and its necessary collaboration with SAMSA, the DEL and others on the proper regulation of the fishing sector with respect to sound working conditions of labour.

Dr Pravine Naidoo of the DEL (video below) spoke at length about why it mattered that the department strengthens its presence and activities in the country’s commercial fishing, sector as well as on expectations of outcomes of its formalised close collaboration with SAMSA, alongside the DFFE.

Next up were the two ILO officials, Mr Mabhele and Ms Mehta, (respective videos below) wherein highlights included an overview of the ILO’s relations with South Africa on maritime sector conventions, specifically the Working in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C.188) and subsequent conventions, ongoing engagements inclusive of continued training of inspectorate officials, as well as the research currently underway in the country’s commercial fishing sector, and due for publication in September this year.

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Search for fishing vessel crewman gone overboard off Lamberts Bay called off: SAMSA

Pretoria: 05 April 2024

The circumstances under which a South African fishing vessel crewman disappeared after reportedly going overboard while at sea off Lamberts Bay in the Western Cape will remain under scrutiny even as the search for the crewman has been called, so said the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) on Friday.

According to SAMSA, information about the incident surfaced early Thursday after the fishing vessel, FV Hesko, issued a call for assistance reportedly due to one of its crewmen having fallen overboard at a location at sea approximately 80 kilometres west of Lamberts Bay in the Atlantic Ocean.

South Africa’s Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at the SAMSA Centre for Sea Watch & Response in Cape Town, working in conjunction with Telkom Maritime Radio (TMR) was informed that the FV Hesko – a 31 meter vessel – reported a man overboard at about 02h14 on Thursday morning.

The MRCC immediately initiated an alert call to all other vessels in the area to possibly render assistance to the casualty vessel, and two – the FV Samrock and the FV Atlantic Rose – were the first responders, with a third, the FV Lisa Ann also due to join the search and rescue during the course of the day, on Thursday.

The MRCC said: “We were informed that the incident occurred while the crew was busy working on the nets on the deck and the crewman who reportedly fell overboard had slipped.

“The report said he was wearing a life jacket and had been initially spotted floating face down in water after the fall overboard. One of the crew members reportedly jumped into the water in an attempt to recover the casualty, but unfortunately the casualty disappeared under water.”

“The search had continued for a while through to Thursday morning but later, the casualty vessel and those assisting with the search reported that they were released from the search for the person in the water.

“With all information at its hands, MRCC Cape Town having considered the matter, decided to stand down. That notwithstanding, a ‘PAN PAN’ broadcast was made to all vessels in the vicinity until 11h00 to be on the lookout for a lifejacket sighting and report such to the MRCC when made,” said SAMSA.

SAMSA further confirmed that the incident remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, in Cape Town on Friday, SAMSA confirmed yet another shipping incident at the port of Cape Town wherein two ships collided, but without causing injuries to people.

SAMSA said in Pretoria on Friday: “The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) can confirm an incident involving the Ambience Cruise Ship and the Grey Fox Cargo Ship at the Cape Town Harbour earlier today. The incident occurred during berthing operations when the Ambience made contact with another vessel and the quay.

“We are relieved to confirm that there have been no injuries because of this incident. Furthermore, there is no risk to the environment, nor to the safety of the vessel or the port. The Ambience sustained minor damages.

“The Port Authority is actively managing the situation, and a SAMSA surveyor is currently on-site conducting a thorough assessment to understand the circumstances surrounding the incident and to evaluate the extent of the damage.”

End.

Group of people lost at sea for two days off Cape Point, found: SAMSA

Pretoria: 26 March 2024

A sea search for a group of six (6) people reportedly lost at sea since Saturday was concluded after they were successfully rescued on Monday evening, the South African Maritime Safety Authority announced on Tuesday.

According to the Maritime Rescue Coordinating Centre (MRCC) at SAMSA’s Cape Town based Centre for Sea Watch & Response, the survivors were found and rescued during a search operation involving Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) vessels, the research vessel ELLEN KHUZWAYO and in-shore patrol vessel RUTH FIRST, late on Monday.

The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Simonstown assisted with the transfer of the survivors and their craft from the rescue vessel, the Ellen Khuzwayo, and they were taken to the SAN Simons Town Naval Base on Tuesday.

According to the MRCC Cape Town, the group had gone missing after their rigid hulled inflatable boat (RHIB) ran out fuel and were left drifting at sea in the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday at approximately 100km west off Cape Point.

Search and Rescue efforts continued from Sunday afternoon, when the MRCC was notified of the overdue craft, until the successful outcome on Monday. The DDFE vessels RUTH FIRST and ELLEN KHUZWAYO were provided with Search Patterns to cover the Search Area of approximately 6,296.8 km^2.

“In an extensive search and rescue operation involving multiple resources, since Sunday reaching in excess of 80 nautical miles south-east of Cape Point, the research vessel, ELLEN KHUZWAYO; located and recovered the six (6) missing fishermen deep sea off Cape Point.

“They are reportedly all in good health and not injured. NSRI Simonstown rescue craft was launched around 10h00 today (local time) and escort them on their last leg to Simonstown naval base.

“The support and efforts of the maritime community as well as the extensive search carried out by DFFE l vessels Ellen Khuzwayo and Ruth First who extensively searched a plotted search grid taking sea drift, wind speeds and direction into account, by MRCC SAR Coordinator and Duty Team, is commended in the successful rescue operation.”

End