In order to better comply with our mandate SAMSA has appointed safety officers from authorised agencies (organised sporting bodies) to ensure the safety, marking and certification of pleasure vessels under 9 metres in length.
Under the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2007 (as amended), vessels used solely for pleasure are exempted from licensing, but are generally (except exempted vessels) required to be inspected, have an approved identification number issued, have Certificates of Fitness issued, and skippers of certain types of vessels are to be certificated. SAMSA may designate any
or all these functions to an Authorised Agency.
Authorised Agencies are certain water sport bodies that qualify for designation as per the definitions in the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2007 (as amended) as per regulation 30.
The guiding policy is: -
- Organised sporting bodies who use boats to carry out their sport are encouraged to ensure the safety, marking and certification of small vessels. They may participate in the national skipper certification system if they have the ability to do so;
- Pleasure boaters are encouraged to join existing sporting bodies or form new ones. This is important as it enables easier compliance with the regulations, in addition it ensures that they get a voice in the future of boating through their organization's engagement with the State on boating matters;
- Until such time that water sporting bodies on inland waters have caught up to their coastal counterparts, existing authorised agencies are encouraged to accommodate recreational boaters
The following bodies have been designated as Authorised Agencies in terms the Merchant Shipping
(National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations 2007 (as amended);
SA Sailing Inspection and certification of all pleasure vessels < 100 GT belonging to affiliated clubs, and examinations of skippers of motor driven vessels <9m under the national system and recreational
SA Sailing certificates of competency for any sailing vessel.
SADSAA South African Deep Sea Angling Association. Inspection and certification of pleasure vessels <9m, and examinations of skippers of motor driven vessels <9m under the national system.
SASCA South African Small Craft Association (previously South African Underwater Union). Inspection and certification of pleasure vessels <9m, and examinations of skippers of motor driven vessels
<9m under the national system.
SALTBAA South African Light Tackle Boat Angling Association. Inspection and certification of pleasure vessels <9m, and examinations of skippers of motor driven vessels <9m under the national system.
Canoeing SA https://www.canoesa.org.za
SAMSA has also appointed SAMSA appointed external surveyors not affiliated to an authorised agency, to ensure the safety, marking and certification of pleasure vessels. For more information on Authorised agencies please see below link:-
Click on the link to access the relevant marine notice
