How Fishers Live on the Olifants River
The Ebenhaeser community hope to be at the centre of South African mullet fishing
SAMSA
SAMSA Boating Unit Hosts Gatekeeper Workshop at Eagle Waters for Inland Waters Strategy
As part of its ongoing implementation of the Inland Waters Strategy, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) recently rolled out a focused Gatekeeper workshop for officials stationed at Eagle Waters Wildlife Resort in Harties on the 8 to 9 April 2025. The training was facilitated by SAMSA Boating Unit represented by Mr. Vusi Dube … Continue reading SAMSA Boating Unit Hosts Gatekeeper Workshop at Eagle Waters for Inland Waters Strategy
SAMSA Welcomes Ghana Maritime Authority Director General Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) recently hosted Navy Captain Dr. Kamal-Deen Ali, a newly appointed Director General of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), at its Cape Town offices for strategic discussions aimed at deepening maritime cooperation between the two countries. Attended by Mr. Eugene Alec Rappetti, Executive Manager: Maritime Special Projects, and Captain … Continue reading SAMSA Welcomes Ghana Maritime Authority Director General to Strengthen Regional Maritime Cooperation
Celebrating 27 Years of SAMSA
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) celebrated 27 years of existence on 1 April 2025. The celebration was marked by various activities, including a heartfelt message to staff from the ACEO and video messages from excited staff members as the spirit of gratitude sailed across all SAMSA regions. Since its establishment in 1998, SAMSA … Continue reading The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) celebrated 27 years of existence on 1 April 2025
Access to Seafaring Careers Survey Now Closed!
The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) ran the Access to Seafaring Careers Survey from September 2024. Please note that the survey is now closed and no new responses are being accepted. The feedback and results of the survey that were completed by over a 1000 seafarers will be assessed and analysed to determine how … Continue reading Access to Seafaring Careers Survey that ran from September 2024 now closed!
SAMSA Launches Nationwide Fishing Vessel Safety Audit
The Minister of Transport, Hon. Barbara Creecy directed the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) to conduct safety inspections of all South African commercial fishing vessels operating in South African waters. This comes after serious fishing incidents that occurred in South Africa’s waters in 2024 that resulted in the tragic loss of eighteen (18) fishers’ … Continue reading The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) launches its nationwide Fishing Vessel Safety Audit to assess compliance with safety regulations in the commercial fishing sector
TNPA to use cutting edge technology to improve its dredging capacity
TNPA to use cutting edge technology to improve its dredging capacity
The Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) is set to improve its dredging capacity with the installation of a new marine excavator on the Italeni, a Grab Hopper Dredger.
It is used by the ports authority to maintain the promulgated depth of port berths, basin and entrance channels necessary for the safe navigation of vessels in the ports.
The installation of this cutting-edge technology will boost dredging volumes and increase efficiency at South Africa’s commercial seaports.
A marine excavator is a specialised technological machinery that is used to improve dredging operations while ensuring safe and sustainable practises of marine and coastal environments.
With an investment value of R76 million, the newly installed excavator is designed to grab dredged material weighing up to 2000kg at a radius of at least 20 meters.
The upgrade will enable the Italeni to efficiently handle dredged volumes of 150 000 cubic meters (m³), a significantly increase from its annual capacity from 94 000 m³.
The upgrade replaces the excavator fitted in 2014 that has reached its operational lifespan. This feature bolsters berth availability to meet the increasing demand of larger vessels calling into South African ports.
"The Italeni upgrade enables TNPA’s strategic intent of creating a smart port system through harnessing innovation and technology.
“Coupled with enhancing the dredger’s capability to dredge the ports to the required depth, the new marine excavator will ensure that our waterside infrastructure remains competitive by improving TNPA’s customer service offering," said Phyllis Difeto Acting TNPA Chief Executive.
Italeni is the only dredging vessel in South Africa capable of accessing confined berths and quay walls, distinguishing the craft from the rest of TNPA’s dredging fleet necessary for maintenance work.
Through its Dredging Services business unit, TNPA is actively optimising port depth to ensure the provision of commercially viable berths to its shipping and terminal operation customers.
The installed machinery adheres to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) regulations and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) legislation regarding carbon emissions. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 02/18/2025 - 10:13
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Wreck of MV Ultra Galaxy Confirmed as Source of West Coast Oil Spill
Clean-up continues and conservationist is impressed with the response
Wreck Removal of Grounded Fishing Trawler, Fv Elke-M Underway in St Francis Bay
Pretoria: 27 November 2024 Work on the removal of the last batch of loosened parts of the wreck of the fishing trawler, FV Elke M, that ran aground near St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape in January 2024, has resumed, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed at the weekend. According to SAMSA, … Continue reading Wreck removal of grounded fishing trawler, FV Elke-M underway in St Francis Bay: SAMSA
A Marine Court of Enquiry to Be Set up to Establish Cause of the Sinking of a Cape Town Fishing Vessel, Fv Lepanto, With Deaths of 11 of Its Crew Members: Dept of Transport
Pretoria: 14 November 2024 A marine court of enquiry is to be set up by the Department of Transport (DoT) to fully establish the cause/s of the sinking of a Cape Town based South African commercial vessel, the FV Lepanto, earlier in 2024 and whose demise cost the lives of 11 crew, while nine (9) … Continue reading A marine court of enquiry to be set up to establish cause of the sinking of a Cape Town fishing vessel, FV Lepanto, with deaths of 11 of its crew members: Dept of Transport
Subsistence Fishers Boosted With Safety Gear in Eastern and Western Cape Regions
Stilbaai: 31 October 2024 The plight of South Africa’s subsistence fishing communities is increasingly receiving due attention from government and its agencies, but particularly with both the allocation of more fish species rights, as well as support in terms of enhancing fishing safety, according to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE). This emerged … Continue reading Subsistence fishers boosted with safety gear in Eastern and Western Cape regions: SAMSA
South Africa’s Parliament ‘Pleased’ by Samsa’s Work, and Pledges More Resources’ Support.
Cape Town: 18 October 2024 South Africa’s Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport has expressed its pleasure and satisfaction with the work of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA, even as the entity is hard pressed to jack up its boots to enhance levels of safety in the country’s waterways for both life and property … Continue reading South Africa’s Parliament ‘pleased’ by SAMSA’s work, and pledges more resources’ support.
Crew Members of Casualty Fishing Vessel, Mfv Armana Safely Back in Cape Town
Cape Town: 14 October 2024 Twenty crew members of a casualty fishing vessel abandoned at sea on Sunday after it caught fire arrived safely and were disembarked in Cape on Sunday night, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) confirmed on Monday. However, a search for the vessel had since been called off on Monday … Continue reading Crew members of casualty fishing vessel, MFV Armana safely back in Cape Town; but vessel missing and presumed sunken: SAMSA
20 Seafarers Safely Evacuated From Fishing Vessel on Fire
Pretoria: 13 October 2024 Twenty crew members of a fishing vessel that caught on fire while out at sea some 60 nautical miles offshore from Gansbaai in the Western Cape were safely rescued and currently on their way to Cape Town, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). According to SAMSA, the fiery … Continue reading 20 seafarers safely evacuated from fishing vessel on fire: SAMSA
Seafarers Safety and Marine Environmental Protection Under Focus During ‘Transport Month’
Pretoria: 08 October 2024 Seafarers’ safety and welfare, right along with tight protection of the oceans environment have come under close focus in South Africa in October – a month dedicated annually to transport safety – all in the wake of several vessels incidents this year and during some of which both life and property … Continue reading Seafarers safety and marine environmental protection under focus on ‘Transport Month’ in South Africa.
Container Search Conrinues, MV MSC Apollo Released After Oil Spill
Pretoria: 04 October 2024 The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) says it has embarked on yet another search for a set of containers lost overboard by an international cargo vessel while sailing along the country’s oceans earlier this week. However, the set of containers lost overboard by a Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) vessel, the MV … Continue reading Search on for more containers fallen off a cargo vessel sailing past South Africa this week: SAMSA
Sea Future Safety Vested on Youth
Durban: 01 October 2024 In marking World Maritime Day 2024, under the theme: ‘Navigating the Future: Safety First’, South Africa – with an event held in Durban a week ago – literally took the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) chosen subject for this year by the scruff of the neck, by devoting the entire event to … Continue reading Sea future safety vested on youth; South Africa’s focus on World Maritime Day 2024
SAMSA Ramps up Efforts to Collect Debris From Containers Lost Overboard Vessels on the Indian Ocean
Pretoria: 22 September 2024 With several dozens of containers having fallen off cargo vessels on the country’s eastern seaboard recently, due to bad wintry weather, and some of their contents – including pharmaceutical material – now washing up on hundreds of kilometres of the Indian Ocean coastline, the South African Maritime Safety Authority SAMSA) has … Continue reading SAMSA ramps up efforts to collect debris from containers lost overboard vessels on the Indian Ocean
“Share Your Views!” – Samsa Launches National Seafarers’ Survey on Access to Seafaring Careers.
Pretoria: 21 September 2024 The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is embarking on a seafarers’ opinion soliciting exercise over the next few months and whose goal is to establish South African seafarers’ experiences with regards access to careers in the country’s maritime sector. The survey, themed: Access to Seafaring Careers – launched this past … Continue reading “Share Your Views!” – SAMSA launches national seafarers’ survey on access to seafaring careers.
Mop Up Underway of Containers and Pharmaceutical Bottles Found on the South African Eastern Coastline
Pretoria: 12 September 2024 Work to identify a vessel responsible for pharmaceutical bottles washing ashore along the South African east coast from Gqeberha through to nearby north eastern towns on the Indian Ocean coastline, is actively being investigated, says the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). For identification, analysis and safe disposal of the pharmaceutical … Continue reading Mop up underway of containers and pharmaceutical bottles found on the South African eastern coastline: SAMSA
15 Crew Members of Off-Shore Supply Vessel on Fire, Successfully Rescued off South Africa’s Southern Sea
Pretoria: 12 September 2024 A total 15-member crew were successfully rescued off South Africa’s southern Cape seas on Thursday afternoon after their vessel, an offshore supply vessel caught on fire and had to be abandoned, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) on Thursday. The OSV, named the AM PRIDE and measuring 66.6 … Continue reading 15 Crew members of off-shore supply vessel on fire, successfully rescued off South Africa’s southern sea: SAMSA
Algoa Bay Weekend Oil Spill Still Under Scrutiny
Pretoria: 11 September 2024 An oil spill from a cargo vessel in Algoa Bay at the weekend, and which has since been confirmed to have affected local wildlife, continues to be investigated, even as its spread at sea and along local beaches seems limited, according to the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). In an … Continue reading Algoa Bay weekend oil spill still under scrutiny: SAMSA
Oil Spill in Algoa Bay Under Investigation
Pretoria: 10 September 2024 The South Africa Incident Management Organisation (IMOrg) has launched an investigation into an oily substance spillage believed to have come from a vehicle transportation vessel that was anchored in Algoa Bay on Saturday afternoon, reports the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). The oily substance, and whose exact quantity has yet … Continue reading Oil spill in Algoa Bay under investigation: SAMSA
Aussie-Owned West Coast Mining Company in Trouble
Owner of controversial Tormin mine is in business rescue