Merchant Shipping Draft Bill, 2020

The Department of Transport has published the Merchant Shipping Draft Bill 2020, and is asking you to comment.

Comments can be emailed to [email protected] and [email protected] by no later than Thursday, 6 August 2020. The initial call for comments was put out from 6 March 2020 to 5 May 2020 but was extended by this notice

The Bill seeks to:
▪ provide for the powers and duties of the Minister and the South African Maritime Safety Authority in the administration of this Act,
▪ provide for the registration and licensing of ships in the Republic;
▪ provide for the application of the labour laws to seafarers,
▪ provide for the conditions of employment of seafarers and the health and well-being of seafarers on board a vessel;
▪ promote the safety of life at sea;
▪ establish inspection and enforcement mechanisms including those for marine casualties and crimes committed on ships;
▪ provide for the regulation of marine traffic,
▪ provide for legal proceedings and jurisdictional matters,
▪ recognise and incorporate international conventions to which the Republic is bound in terms of the provisions of the Constitution and its incorporation into domestic law in terms of laws repealed by this Act;
▪ provide a transition framework to the new requirements of this Act;

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