The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) has recognised the need to have a standard operating procedure for vessels requiring assistance where the safety or seaworthiness of a vessel has been compromised as it transits South African waters.
In a notice on its website, the safety authority points out that it has recently become apparent that vessels whose passage plan requires them to transit South African waters, and whose seaworthiness or safety have been compromised, are either failing to report this or not completely disclosing the nature of the problem.
A Samsa spokesperson said that a vessel in this condition was not deemed to be on ‘innocent passage’ and was therefore in contravention of the Marine Traffic Act.
