The South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) is closely observing the ongoing developments in the Middle East concerning the rerouting of merchant vessels around the Cape of Good Hope.
Samsa said on Thursday that it was closely monitoring the evolving situation and assessing its potential impact on global shipping routes, including the anticipated rise in marine traffic on the country’s coastline
“Through the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) Cape Town, the Maritime Domain Awareness is on high alert to support the high-volume traffic,” the maritime safety authority said in a statement.
“Samsa anticipates a possible increase in maritime traffic along the South African coastline and the MRCC is well-positioned to monitor the movement of merchant vessels in real time.”
Samsa stressed the importance of relying on verified, authoritative maritime safety information when making operational decisions.
“We stand fully prepared to support all vessels choosing to navigate past our coastline, thereby providing the right of innocent passage as per the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),” Chief Executive Captain Dennis Mqadi said.
“We remain ready to provide navigational guidance, maritime domain awareness updates, and safety information to ensure secure and efficient passage for all ships.”
He reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to upholding the highest standards of maritime safety within South African waters.
“We will continue working collaboratively with national departments, regional partners and global maritime bodies to ensure that South Africa remains a safe, reliable and strategically important route for international shipping,” Mqadi said.
