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SOUTH AFRICA: DRAFT REGULATIONS AND CODES OF PRACTICE PUBLISHED FOR COMMENT

By Andrew Pike,Lana Stockton Wednesday, November 17, 2021
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Draft Bunkering Code of Practice and Ship To Ship Code of Practice

On 5 November 2021, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) published Marine Information Notice 10-21 indicating that SAMSA, in collaboration with the Department of Transport and Transnet National Ports Authority, had drafted a Bunkering Code of Practice and a Ship to Ship Transfer (STS) Code of Practice. These draft Codes provide a framework for operations, targeted to ensure that bunkering operations are conducted with no harm to the marine environment.

Interested parties may submit written comments on these draft Codes on or before 8 December 2021.

SAMSA’s Marine Information Notice as well as the draft Codes are available on SAMSA’s website here.

Draft Regulations relating to Marine Traffic, Life-Saving and Construction

On 5 November 2021, the Minister of Transport published three sets of draft regulations:

  • The Marine Traffic Act, 1981: Draft Marine Traffic Amendment Regulations, 2021
  • The Merchant Shipping Act, 1951: Draft Life-Saving Amendment Regulations, 2021
  • The Merchant Shipping Act, 1951: Draft Construction Amendment Regulations, 2021

The Draft Marine Traffic Amendment Regulations, 2021 update procedures relating inter alia to entry into internal waters and lay-ups, stoppages and anchoring off the South African coast. The amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act Regulations deal with life-saving equipment and vessel construction respectively.

Interested parties may submit written comments on these draft amendments on or before 12 December 2021.

The Department of Transport’s Notice and draft regulations are available on SAMSA’s website here.

Further updates

Bowmans will continue to monitor these and other legislative and regulatory developments, and will issue updates in due course.