Launch of SAMSA centre celebrated locally

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) launched their new Centre for Boating during a function at Pecanwood on Thursday. The new centre is aimed at ensuring that all small vessels meet SAMSA’s new safety regulations with objectives including safety, transformation, economic development, environmental sustainability and inter-governmental and industry cooperation in boating and the boating industry.
Commander Tsietse Mokhele, Chief Executive Officer of SAMSA, said at the launch that the boating industry is well established in South Africa and is primarily a leisure industry built on sailing, yachting, speed boating and water skiing. A large percentage of these activities take place on the inland waters. Boating in South Africa also has a commercial and import part to it.
The Merchant Shipping Act Small Vessel Regulations came into force in 2007 as a result of accidents taking place on the inland waters. The regulations have the aim of addressing the safety aspects of the boating industry.
Mokhele said that this was envisaged from a construction (construction regulations) and operational point of view (certification of fitness for the boat and competency for the skippers). There are other safety measures on equip-ment to be carried on board and emergency procedures. The implementation of the regulations saw enactment of the last set of requirements being enforced in terms of the regulations (issue of certificate of fitness for speedboats etc above 15 Horse Power).
According to Mokhele lessons learnt during this implementation made it necessary to look beyond just the safety aspects of the small vessels. “The industry is big and employs a substantial number of people. The South African product has a good reputation in the international market, particularly yachting. Also, South Africa has huge backlogs and thus boating, repositioned properly would provide the country with solutions to some of the social challenges relating to transportation, where some parts of this country have inadequate access roads and bridges as well as employment opportunities,” he said.
Mokhele explained that some of the safety elements of the regulations have got economic implications and thus impact on the economic performance of the industry. Thus, during the implementation of the regulations it became apparent to SAMSA that the initiative ought to cover more than just the safety aspects of boating and that is why their other objectives were incorporated into the centre.
The launch took place at the end of the December 2009 Arrive Alive campaign which targeted both holiday makers and boat owners using the inland waters. The campaign consisted of several activations that were aimed at educating the end consumer on safety regulations and tips on staying alive whilst enjoying the country’s inland and sea water.
Dr. Maria Koortz, from the Office of the Minister of Transport, Mr Sibusiso Ndebele, conveyed a message from the minister that the government would like to see a reduction in fatalities, job growth, a growth of boats as a means of transport in rural areas as well as the use of the industry to entertain tourists during the Soccer World Cup. She said that there are 400 dams, 24 rivers and thousands of kilometres of coastline which can be used to improve the lives of people in South Africa. Dr. Koortz said that the waters in South Africa are not only a key platform for tourism but also for the real estate industry and that government realised this, as with the motor industry, regulation of the industry could help it grow and expand. A number of regulations have been brought into force including the Small Vessel Safety Regulations.
Dr. Koortz challenged the boating industry and community on behalf of the minister to promote the industry and to do more to be a part of the national life.

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3 February 2010