Poor watch-keeping practices and “inappropriate” use of electronic navigation systems have caused a number of serious casualties in South Africa’s oceans over the past six months.
This according to the latest Marine Notice (MN26 of 2016) sent out by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) late last week, highlighting the authority’s “concern with the seriousness of the contributory factors leading to the casualties”.
Samsa pointed to three incidents – including a recent collision between two vessels near Cape Town - which resulted in one vessel being abandoned before it sank and in which lives were lost or endangered.
The notice urged all vessel owners to disseminate International Maritime Organisation (IMO) circulars – found on the IMO website – to all the vessels.
These include:
1. MSC.1/Circ.1185 / Rev.1 30 November 2012 / Guide for Cold Water Survival
2. MSC.1/Circ.1182/Rev.1/ 21 November 2014 / Guide to Recovery Techniques
