The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) is responsible to the Minister of Transport, by ways of the SAMSA Act, effective 01 April 1998. SAMSA was charged with the administration of identified Acts and Regulations which includes the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2007.
The Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations, 2007 (as amended), apply to commercial small vessels < 25 GT and pleasure vessels < 100 GT in all South African tidal and sea areas, as well as all vessels regardless of their size on inland waters.
On tidal waters and sea areas the regime has already applied since 2002. On inland waters, the regulations regarding the certification of skippers and the marking and certification of certain vessels have applied since August 2008, and the design and construction requirements for small vessels have applied since August 2009.
Applicable Acts and Regulations therefore define the minimum requirements and standards applicable to small vessels. Formal interpretation of Acts and Regulations and clarification of SAMSA policy is promulgated to interested/involved parties by Marine Notices or Marine Information Notices which can be found on the SAMSA website.
The “Centre for Boating" is the entity within SAMSA responsible for carrying out the mandate delegated to SAMSA by the Merchant Shipping Act, 1951, in as far as it applies to small vessels and inland waters and more specifically the implementation of the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations 2007.
The areas of responsibility delegated to each SAMSA office can be found in Marine Notice 8 of 2022 and are as follows: Click here to view the relevant Marine Notice (ICT to add link here to Marine Notice 08 of 2022)
| Sea and Tidal waters | Inland | Tel | Email |
Northern Region
| Pretoria
| None
| North West, Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, including Part of Northern Free State (Vaal Triangle: i.e. Vaal Dam and Vaal River) | (012) 366 2600
| inspections@samsa.org.za |
Eastern Region
| Richards Bay
| Tugela River to Ponta do Oura - including Tugela River
| Kwa-Zulu Natal
| (035) 788 0068
| samsarb@samsa.org.za
|
Durban
| Port Edward to Tugela River – including Port Edward
| Kwa-Zulu Natal | (031) 307 1501
| durbanops@samsa.org.za
|
Southern Region
| East London
| Kariega River (Kenton-on-Sea) to Port Edward - excluding Kariega River and Port Edward
| Eastern Cape, Free State
| (043) 722 4120
| elreception@samsa.org.za |
| Port of Ngqura (Coega)
| Port of Ngqura (Coega)
| -
| (079) 512 1017 | ponreception@samsa.org.za |
| Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
| Bloukransrivier to Kariega river (Kenton-on-Sea) - including Kariega River
| Eastern Cape, Free State
| (041) 585 0051
| pereception@samsa.org.za
|
Mossel Bay
| Cape Agulhas to Bloukransrivier - including Bloukransrivier
| Eastern Cape, Free State
| (044) 690 4201
| mbreception@samsa.org.za
|
Western Region
| Cape Town
| Yzerfontein to Cape Agulhas
| Northern Cape, Western Region
| (021) 421 6170
| samsacpt@samsa.org.za
|
Saldanha Bay
| Groen River to Yzerfontein - including Yzerfontein
| Northern Cape, Western Region
| (022) 714 1612
| saldanhabayoffice@samsa.org.za
|
Port Nolloth
| Orange River to Groen Rivier - including Groen Rivier
| Northern Cape, Western Region
| (027) 851 7695
| portnolloth@samsa.org.za
|
In case of any emergencies after hours you may Contact the Duty Surveyor from your nearest SAMSA office.
Or our 24-hour emergency number (MRCC) on 021-9383300 for assistance.
Please click links below to find information on the following: -
- Small Vessel Policy Document – Marine Notice 13
- Buoyancy of small vessels
- List of external small pleasure vessel surveyors – (External appointed surveyors and safety officers affiliated to Authorised Agencies)
- Skipper Training - List of small vessel training institutions and external examiners
- List of Marine Notices applicable to small vessels
- Safety Pamphlets and Information Brochures
- Acts and Regulations applicable to small vessels
- General requirements on how to obtain accreditation as a SAMSA Small Vessel Training Institution
- Authorised Agencies
- Marking of small vessels
- Change of ownership – Small Vessels
- Lessons Learnt from small vessel casualties
- Eyesight Test and Medical Examinations – Small Vessels
For guidance on SAMSA's survey requirements see Related Information links, Marine Notices and Legislation or contact a SAMSA office
The Centre for Boating is responsible for carrying out the mandate delegated to SAMSA by the Merchant Shipping Act in as far as it applies to Small Vessels in South Africa.
Our Key focus is on the implementation of the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations 2007, our responsibility extends to inland vessels and not only coastal waters.
If you would like to find out more about the Centre for Boating or need to find someone within the Centre to assist you, then
click here...
Find information on:
The areas of responsibility delegated to each SAMSA Region are:
Western Region: Port Nolloth: Saldanha Bay: Cape Town:
Orange River to Cape Agulhas and adjacent tidal inland areas; and All dams contained in the Western Cape and Northern Cape Provinces.
Southern Region: Mossel Bay: Port Elizabeth: East London:
Cape Agulhas to Port Edward and adjacent tidal inland areas; and All dams contained in the Eastern Cape and Orange Free State Provinces.
Eastern Region: Durban: Richards Bay
Port Edward to Ponte do Oura and adjacent tidal inland areas; and All dams contained in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Pretoria Office: Inland areas including the following. The area of responsibility of the Pretoria office is all dams, rivers and boating areas contained within the North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga and Gauteng Provinces
In case of any emergencies after hours you may
Contact the Duty Surveyor from your nearest port who will ensure that there is a response.
Or our 24 hour emergency number
(MRCC) on
021-9383300 for assistance.
