MERCHANT SHIPPING: INPUT SOUGHT ON FISHER LABOUR, FISHING VESSEL & RADIO INSTALLATION REGULATORY PROPOSALS

MERCHANT SHIPPING: INPUT SOUGHT ON FISHER LABOUR, FISHING VESSEL & RADIO INSTALLATION REGULATORY PROPOSALS

• 06 January 2026
• Transport
• SA Legal Academy

The South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) has called for input on four sets of regulatory proposals under the 1951 Merchant Shipping Act affecting:

• fisher labour welfare
• the construction and equipment of fishing vessels more than 24 metres in length
• the construction and equipment of fishing vessels less than 24 metres in length and of at least 25 gross tonnage, and
• radio installations.

At the time of writing, no deadline for comment had been provided.

Notices calling for input were gazetted on 24 December 2025 – referring stakeholders to the SAMSA website for the documents concerned. Unfortunately, technical errors made them inaccessible. The proposed new regulations were eventually published nearly two weeks later after several unsuccessful attempts involving faulty links.

• fisher labour welfare draft regulations
• Government Gazette notice
• draft regulations on fishing vessels less than 24 metres in length and of at least 25 gross tonnage 
• Government Gazette notice
• draft regulations on fishing vessels more than 24 metres in length 
• Government Gazette notice
• draft regulations on radio installations in specific types of commercial, fishing and passenger ship
• Government Gazette notice

Published by SA Legal Academy Policy Watch

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