Navigating our way towards a developed and updated maritime policy and regulatory regime that will position South Africa into...
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Ensuring safe ships and clean seas through compliance with applicable requirements.
Survey of ships: All South African... -
Ensuring safe ships and clean seas through compliance with applicable requirements.
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To comply with the requirements of International Maritime Organisation Conventions - Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS) and...
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The Centre for Maritime Industry Development is responsible for the advancement (development) of the maritime economy,...
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Information is currently being collated. We will be updating this page with the latest information from our offices through...
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The Office of the Chief Examiner maintains standards of examinations and maritime training and education in accordance with...
Technology
Overview of services
Services on behalf of Government:
- Advice to the Minister of Transport on maritime issues affecting South Africa
- Maintenance and proposals on legislation and policy
- Liaison with other governments and international institutions on behalf of Government
- Liaison with other state departments and South African institutions on behalf of the Minister of Transport
- Flag State Implementation
- Providing a maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) capability in the South African area of responsibility through the management, on behalf of the DOT, of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)
- Port State control
- Accident investigations and Emergency Casualty Response
- Administration of government maritime contracts
- Management of the DOT contracted pollution prevention and response capability
- Representation at international forums
Technical services to the maritime Industry, locally and abroad:
- Statutory surveys and Safety certification of ships
- Certification of Seafarers
- Assistance and advice on maritime legislation
- Advice and approval for the construction and refitting of vessels
- Evaluation and approval of fittings and equipment used in the construction and fitting out of vessels
- Consultancy to industry on technical matters, safety and qualifications
Services to stakeholders:
- Safety equipment approval
- Port State Control Inspections
- Inspections of ships and cargoes of timber, grain and hazardous goods
- Accreditation of maritime training institutions and maritime training programmes
- Examination of Seafarers
- Monitoring of South African seafarers’ welfare and conditions of service
- Registration of Ships
- Provision of maritime safety information to shipping
- Ensuring a reliable radio service to shipping in respect of maritime safety information
- Casualty investigation and management
- Oil pollution incident response and investigations
- Ensuring that navigational aids are in place around the South African coastline
- Maintenance of a maritime Search and Rescue organisation in co-operation with the Department of Transport
- Promoting seafarer training in South Africa
- Collection and maintenance of shipping information and statistics
- Pro-active development and promotion of maritime safety in South Africa’s territorial waters
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Careers
CAREER GUIDANCE IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY
The Maritime Industry offers careers that have Nationally and Internationally recognised tertiary qualifications, job satisfaction, a high level of responsibility, good advancement prospects and a wide variety of careers both at sea and ashore.
SA Maritime Sector Skills Development Model and Careers Opportunities in the Maritime Sector
- List of Maritime Specific and Maritime Related education and training offered by SA providers and institutions. Click here to view the List
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The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA),an Agency of Government, is pursuing a growth strategy that prioritises the development and retention of quality critical and scarce skills within the maritime sector. SAMSA, the South African Navy and the maritime industry including the private sector, are most important partners for skills development in the maritime sector. More on SAMSA Executive Summary
Career On board a Ship
- Captain
- Navigating officers
- Engineering officers
- Catering staff
School Requirements
- Grade 12 / N3 (Maths and Science compulsory - Std or Higher grade level - 60% pass rate)
- Grade 10 ( N1, N2, N3 with Maths and Science - Std or Higher grade level - 60% pass rate)
- Scholars with Grade 12 certificate without maths and science can do a six-month bridging course with any institution offering Maritime Studies.
Further Education
- Aspiring cadets can enroll at either Durban University of Technology or Cape Peninsula University of Technology in Maritime Studies or Mechanical Engineering.
- They must complete S1 and S2 (Certificate in Maritime Studies) at either Durban University of Technology or Cape Peninsula University of Technology (once this course is complete, the student will have the choice of becoming a Navigating or Engineering Officer).
- After completion of S1 and S2, the student will have to join a shipping company to complete a 12-month sea service training period (e.g. shipping companies: Unicorn, Safmarine, Mearsk).
- Pass SAMSA oral exam to qualify either as a Deck or an Engineer Officer.
- Complete S3 (National Diploma in Maritime Studies) at either Durban University or Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
- Complete further 12-month sea service.
- Pass SAMSA oral exam to qualify either as Chief Navigating Officer or Second Engineering Officer.
- Complete S4 (Higher Diploma in Maritime Studies) at either Durban University or Cape Peninsula University of Technology.
- Complete further 12-month sea service.
- Pass SAMSA oral exams to qualify either as Master or Chief Engineer
Contact Details
South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA)
John Phiri(Skills Development Manager)
Tel: 012 - 366 2648
Email: jphiri@samsa.org.za
Cape Peninsula University of Technology (Faculty Office)
Tel: 021 - 460 32 55
Email: thomasjc@cput.ac.za
Granger Bay Campus
Tel: 021 - 440 5752
Email: maritime@cput.ac.za
Tel: 021 - 440 5755
Email: snyderse@cput.ac.za
Durban University of Technology
Department of Maritime Studies
The secretary
Tel: 031 - 373 2144
Email: arshnar@dut.ac.za
CAREERS IN THE MARITIME INDUSTRY
The Maritime industry is associated with activities on all vessels used at sea and associated land-based services. Routes include oceans, coasts, seas, lakes, rivers and channels.
The Maritime field offers a wide choice of career opportunities, many of which are international by nature. The following is an indication of maritime careers but not limited to:
- Marine and Ship Engineers – involved with the maintenance of the engine of a ship; responsible for all engineering related needs of a ship. The Cape Peninsula University of Technology and The Durban Institute of Technology offer all required marine engineering subjects at a tertiary level.
- Crewmember – career can lead from a deck officer to Captain.
- Deck officers – required to navigate the ship safely and efficiently.
- Maritime Law – Maritime and fisheries lawyers are concerned with the branch of law that governs international maritime zones and maritime resources. The international law of the sea and the network of conventions that governs navigation, fishing, seabed mining, naval warfare and marine pollution are within the sphere of interest of maritime lawyers.
- Tug Masters – Captains of tugs are responsible for ships towing other vessels/barges when they are in trouble at sea. They also give guidance to salvage (rescue) work.
- Marine Pilots – guide ships when entering the harbour/port, as the Master of the ship may not be well versed with the geography of the port.
- Harbour Masters – responsible for the overall control of the Port – all activities including lighthouses. Vessel trafficking systems, etc.
- Ship surveyors – conduct inspections and surveys of vessels; checking safety standards and condition of equipment. They carry out these surveys for government, e.g. SAMSA, DoT Agency, for classification societies, cargo owners or underwriters (insurance companies).
- Maritime Environmentalist (Sea Pollution) – are involved in Management of the environment. Marine biologist and oceanographers look at the prevention of oil spills from ships, check for engine leaks, and how it can be prevented. They endeavour to combat pollution, clean-ups and decide what dispersants could be used and which species are highly vulnerable. They also do risk assessments especially for blast water management in addition they could also do testing and approval of treatment systems and ensure the availability of reception facilities.
Various learnerships through the Transport SETA (TETA) are available and academic studies through various centres of development are offered (refer to institutions of higher learning).
COLLEGES/SCHOOLS FOR MARITIME STUDIES
New Forest
P O Box 53194
Yellow-wood Park, 4001
Tel: (031) 462 6206
Fax: (031) 469 1816
Maritime Studies A: Grades 10 – 12
Simon’s Town School
P O Box 38
Simon’s Town, 7995
Tel: (021) 786 1056
Fax: (021) 786 1065
Maritime Studies A & B: Grades 10 – 12, Boarding facilities available for learners
Sithengile High School
P O Box 419
Clernaville, 3602
Tel: (031) 711 3673
Fax: (031) 707 5166
Maritime Studies A: Grades 10 – 12
Tsiand Technical High School
Private Bag x8533
Esikhaweni, 3887
Tel: (035) 796 1040/70
Fax: (035) 796 4062
Maritime Studies A: Grades 10 – 12
WEBSITE LINKS
Department of Transport (DoT)
www.transport.gov.za
Transport Education and Training Authority
www.teta.org.za
National Ports Authority
www.transnet.net
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Legislation
SAMSA’s regulatory framework output is delivered largely through the work of the legal unit; the unit’s main subsidiary outputs being rules and standards development and regulatory legal support. The unit’s two permanent staff deliver these outputs.
For most of the year the unit’s head acted as CEO, which adversely affected the unit’s capacity to meet certain targets, notably the overhaul of technical and operational standards for fishing vessels (the Torremolinos Convention project). Nevertheless, the unit was still able to substantially meet its main output targets.
The unit continued to support the organisation’s maritime safety and marine environment protection standards setting and compliance monitoring programmes by contributing towards a number of legislative and guidance measures, including measures covering:
- Ship mortgage ranking (as part of the tonnage tax initiative
- Being led by Treasury);
- Shipowner limitation;
- Maritime labour standards;
- Seafarer qualifications;
- Stevedore occupational safety;
- Safety of containers used in maritime transport;
- Small boat safety standards, particularly for inland waters;
- Casualty investigation; and
- Ship technical and operational standards.
In addition to delivering two new draft Bills covering maritime labour standards (arising from the adoption of the Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention 2006) and casualty investigation, the unit has continued to promote (through further consultation and technical refinement) the following draft Bills:
- Admiralty Jurisdiction Regulation Amendment Bill;
- Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Bill;
- Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) (Contributions) Bill;
- Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability Convention) Bill;
- Merchant Shipping and Ship Registration Amendment Bill;
- Merchant Shipping (Safe Containers Convention) Bill;
- Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill; and
- South African Maritime Safety Authority Amendment Bill.
Apart from these proposed Parliamentary measures, the unit also delivered the following six new draft subordinate measures:
- The Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety)Regulations
- The Merchant Shipping (Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Recruitment and Placement of Seafarers) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Consolidated Maritime Labour Convention Consequential Amendments) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations; and
- The Courts of Marine Enquiry Amendment Regulations.
In addition, the unit has continued to promote (through further consultation and technical refinement) the following draft subordinate measures:
- The Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability Convention) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) (Contributions) Regulations;
- The Marine Pollution (Control and Civil Liability) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Seafarer Accident Insurance) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Safe Containers Convention) Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Amendment Regulations (No. 1);
- The Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning) Amendment Regulations (No. 1);
- The Ships’ Officers’ Medical Training Amendment Regulations;
- The Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) (Fishing and Marine Motorman Qualifications) Regulations, together with its related amendments to the Code for South African Maritime Qualifications;
- The Merchant Shipping (Training and Certification) Amendment Regulations (No. 2);
- The Merchant Shipping (Safe Manning) Amendment Regulations (No. 2);
- The Maritime Occupational Safety Amendment Regulations, together with its related Code of Safe Working Practice for Ships Working Cargo in South African Ports.
The unit has continued to provide specialist assistance to the Department of Transport in several areas, most notably at the International Maritime Organisation, where unit staff participated at the LEG.91 and LEG.92 sessions.
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Services
Services on behalf of Government:
- Advice to the Minister of Transport on maritime issues affecting South Africa
- Maintenance and proposals on legislation and policy
- Liaison with other governments and international institutions on behalf of Government
- Liaison with other state departments and South African institutions on behalf of the Minister of Transport
- Flag State Implementation
- Providing a maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) capability in the South African area of responsibility through the management, on behalf of the DOT, of the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC)
- Port State control
- Accident investigations and Emergency Casualty Response
- Administration of government maritime contracts
- Management of the DOT contracted pollution prevention and response capability
- Representation at international forums
Technical services to the maritime Industry, locally and abroad:
- Statutory surveys and Safety certification of ships
- Certification of Seafarers
- Assistance and advice on maritime legislation
- Advice and approval for the construction and refitting of vessels
- Evaluation and approval of fittings and equipment used in the construction and fitting out of vessels
- Consultancy to industry on technical matters, safety and qualifications
Services to stakeholders:
- Safety equipment approval
- Port State Control Inspections
- Inspections of ships and cargoes of timber, grain and hazardous goods
- Accreditation of maritime training institutions and maritime training programmes
- Examination of Seafarers
- Monitoring of South African seafarers’ welfare and conditions of service
- Registration of Ships
- Provision of maritime safety information to shipping
- Ensuring a reliable radio service to shipping in respect of maritime safety information
- Casualty investigation and management
- Oil pollution incident response and investigations
- Ensuring that navigational aids are in place around the South African coastline
- Maintenance of a maritime Search and Rescue organisation in co-operation with the Department of Transport
- Promoting seafarer training in South Africa
- Collection and maintenance of shipping information and statistics
- Pro-active development and promotion of maritime safety in South Africa’s territorial waters
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Corporate Governamce and Institutional Development
Corporate Governamce and Institutional Development
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Societal and Development Agenda
Societal and Development Agenda
About Us
Accountable to the Minister of Transport, SAMSA was established on 1 April 1998 in terms of the South African Maritime Safety Authority Act 5 of 1998 (View Acts).
SAMSA is governed by a Board made up of the CEO and six non-executive members, including the Chair and Deputy Chair, as appointed by the Minister.
The organisation’s objective is to lead and champion South Africa’s maritime interests as custodians and stewards of maritime policy, vigorous promoters of the maritime sector and giving full and complete effect to our obligations for the benefit of all stakeholders.
VISION
The Authority championing South Africa's global martime ambitions.
MISSION
To promote South Africa's maritime interests and development and position the country as an international Maritime Centre while ensuring maritime safety, health and enviromental protection.
In line with its objectives, as stated in Section 3 of the SAMSA Act, the organisation’s primary areas of responsibility include:
- Participating in the development and implementation of national and international maritime safety and marine environment protection standards;
- Enforcing technical and operational standards for all shipping operations in South African waters and for South African ships anywhere, to promote responsible operations in terms of seaworthiness, safety and pollution prevention;
- Enforcing training standards and competency of seafarers;
- Managing the national capability to respond to marine pollution incidents and other maritime emergencies;
- Operating the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre to coordinate maritime assistance services and to detect, and coordinate the location and rescue of people in maritime distress situations throughout the internationally agreed South African Search and Rescue Region;
- Overseeing the provision of maritime distress and safety communications services to discharge South Africa's responsibilities under the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System;
- Administering South Africa's voluntary ship reporting system (SAFREP) for identifying and tracking ships at sea for safety purposes and to provide a ships' database for responding to marine emergencies;
- Investigating maritime casualties; and
- Delivering related services including:
- Public awareness and education in marine safety and pollution prevention;
- Administration of South Africa's ship registration system; and
- Publication of, and access to, ship safety and environmental standards.
SAMSA delivers four main outputs consistent with its mandate and responsibilities:
- Safety and environment protection standards for responsible maritime transport operations;
- An infrastructure for monitoring and enforcing compliance with safety and environment protection standards;
- The capability to respond to marine pollution incidents and other maritime emergencies; and
- The capability to detect, locate and rescue people in maritime distress situations.
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