SAMSA updates reporting requirement

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has issued a marine notice updating its oil spill reporting requirements as part of its application of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution by Ships (Marpol). The notice (No 10 of 2012, published April 12) reinforces the existing provisions and outlines the relevant reporting obligations.

In addition to SAMSA itself, the other organisations that need to be alerted are the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) and Smit Amandla Marine, which manages the standby tug Smit Amandla. The notice, which is available online at www.samsa.org.za/marine-notices, gives contact numbers – including after- hours and cellphone numbers – for regional SAMSA offices, the SAMSA head office, DEA and Smit Amandla.