Captain's Log

31 JANUARY 2025 – STRONGER PROTECTIONS FOR OUR OCEANS: SOUTH AFRICA ENACTS TOUGHER MARINE POLLUTION LAWS

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill, introducing stronger measures to safeguard South Africa’s coastline and marine economy. The new bill aligns with global environmental commitments, incorporating Annex IV and Annex VI of the International Convention for the Prevention of ...

2025 BRINGS GAME-CHANGING REGULATIONS FOR A GREENER MARITIME INDUSTRY

The European Commission in July of 2021 introduced a legislative package known as Fit for 55, this aims to create energy policies that are aligned with EU Climate Goals. The central goal is to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 55% before 2030. This is a milestone that is essential ...

12 NOVEMBER 2024 – EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES: RIPL REVOLUTIONIZES PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN MINING OVERSIGHT ON SOUTH AFRICA’S WEST COAST

Public participation is established within the legislative requirement to mine within South Africa, and it assists citizens in engaging with environmental oversight, but the process can be too complex, especially for those with limited computer access or literacy skills. Enter Ripl, a digital public participation platform. Ripl simplifies the PPP, ...

05 SEPTEMBER 2024 – ROUGH WATERS: LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL DUTIES AMIDST THE MV ULTRA GALAXY OIL SPILL

Last month many South Africans were shocked by the news that a vessel, the MV Ultra Galaxy, had begun leaking oil following her becoming grounded along the west coast. This was presumably due to the series of severe storms that passed through the Western Cape which lead to heavy swells ...

12 AUGUST 2024 – STAYING ON TRACK: AMENDMENTS TO THE MERCHANT SHIPPING ACT (COLREGS)

On the 2nd of August 2024 the Department of Transport released amendments to the Merchant Shipping Act (Collision and Distress Signals) Regulations of 2005 (“the Colregs”). In terms of these amendments, Part F (incorporating new Rules 39, 40 and 41 to the annex) was introduced therein. The aim of the ...
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