CAPE TOWN, Aug. 25– South Africa has introduced new rules for offshore ship-to-ship fuel transfers, with violators facing fines of up to 2 million rand (about 114,000 U.S. dollars) or five years’ imprisonment, local media reported on Monday.
“The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, has signed the Regulations for the Environmental Management of Offshore Ship-to-Ship Transfer, published under the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008),” media reports quoted a statement issued Friday by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) as saying.
According to the statement, these regulations, which will come into force once published in the Government Gazette, provide South Africa with a clear and enforceable environmental framework to manage offshore ship-to-ship transfer operations, including bunkering.
They are designed to prevent pollution, protect coastal ecosystems, reduce the impact of any potential spills, and safeguard the African Penguin and other marine life along South Africa‘s biodiverse Algoa Bay and coastline.
“These regulations are a decisive step to safeguard our oceans and secure the future of our African Penguin. They set strict standards for offshore ship-to-ship transfers, ensuring that maritime activity can only proceed in a safe and responsible way,” George said in the statement.
The new measures include banning ship-to-ship transfers within marine protected areas, aquaculture development zones, within five nautical miles of each of these zones, and within three nautical miles of the high-water mark.
Operators are required to monitor for penguins and marine mammals, deploy hydrophone systems, and report sightings and incidents.
They must also have immediate response plans in place for any oiled or injured wildlife. Additional requirements include the use of drip trays, leak detection systems, inflatable booms, and a spill-response vessel on standby within five nautical miles of the shore.
All crew members must receive environmental awareness training, with operators required to submit an independent environmental management plan for approval by the minister, to address site-specific risks.
“Non-compliance will be met with firm penalties: fines of up to 2 million rand, imprisonment for up to five years, or both,” said the DFFE. (Xinhua)
