As part of its efforts to help address the challenges facing the global shipping community, the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) has extended by six months - from June to 31 December 2020, or such other period as may be necessary – the grace period allowed to seafarers whose certificates have expired.
The arrangement is similarly applicable to vessels whose certificates are due to expire during the lockdown. They have been granted an extension of up to three (months) provided an application is made well in advance.
According to Samsa, the concessions are contained in correspondence submitted by Government to the IMO a week ago, outlining the measures South Africa is taking to ease the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown regulations.
The newly introduced measures were motivated by a recent call by the IMO to member states to ease up on lockdown regulations to reduce interruptions to global shipping.
