SOUTH AFRICA: Having completed a three-month safety audit of fishing vessels operating out of all of South Africa’s major fishing harbours, the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has highlighted several concerns relating to the age of the fleet, stability issues and the lack of safety management systems.

The Gambia became the most recent African country to join the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO) last month, highlighting the developing commitment from the continent to foster hydrographic skills and knowledge.

SOUTH AFRICA: The two oil and gas engineers working offshore in Equatorial Guinea that were unlawfully detained more than two years ago have returned home after they received a pardon from the President of Equatorial Guinea.

SOUTH AFRICA: Presenting a full programme, the AMSOL Group hosted stakeholders for a Marine Emergency Response and Preparedness seminar last week to help focus attention on the resources and skills required in the event of maritime incidents along the country’s coastline.

Concluding a national series of refresher workshops, the South African Maritime Safety Authority has appointed 85 external examiners and trained over 100 personnel after audit findings highlighted the need for standardised examination practices among SAMSA-accredited skipper training institutions.

KENYA: A workshop aimed at strengthening gender dimensions, climate change, and environmental considerations in regional value chains for small-scale octopus fisheries drew participation from Kenya, Tanzania, Madagascar, and Comoros at the beginning of the month.

SOUTH AFRICA: The news that an urgent interdict had been filed against the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) to challenge the validity of the management tender for the SA Agulhas II and Algoa sent ripples through the maritime industry and once again turned the spotlight on how state-owned vessels are managed.

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