By Leo Crisp
The African Oceans Council (AOC) supports the call by Transport minister, Barbara Creecy for the South African Maritime Authority (SAMSA) to conduct urgent safety inspections on all commercial fishing vessels operating in South Africa.
This after a Viking Fishing Company with 20 crew on board was on fire early on Sunday morning about 60 nautical miles off the Gansbaai coast in the Western Cape. As the AOC, we note the incident and it is very fortunate that all crew members were reported safe. We encourage safe and secure seas across the continent. However, we note with concern that 18 people have lost their lives in five incidents in 2024. The fishing sector employs 27 000 direct jobs across the country’s coastline and contributes R6 billion annually to the local economy.
A critical factor exacerbating these tragedies is the outdated state of fishing vessels in South Africa. SAMSA estimates there are approximately 1,800 fishing vessels in operation are old, too small and lack the modern technology needed to ensure safety and efficiency. Financing the upgrade and replacement of these vessels would not only protect human lives but also create a valuable opportunity to stimulate the shipbuilding industry, which has the potential to generate thousands of new jobs.
The fishing industry is at a crossroads and to remain competitive, resilient, and safer, it requires significant investment in larger, more modern vessels that are better equipped to meet today’s operational and safety challenges. Modernisation in the fishing industry will not only safeguard the lives of the crew but also enhance the economic contribution of this crucial sector.
As the AOC, we remain dedicated to advocating for these necessary reforms across Africa’s maritime sectors. The tragic loss of life this year serves as a sobering reminder that innovation, enhanced safety protocols, and investment in better-equipped vessels are essential for the sustainable future of our maritime industries. The AOC strive to ensure that Africa’s maritime sector is equipped for a safer and more prosperous future.
Topics like marine safety and marine security are the basis for the blue economy to remain relevant and inter-Africa trade to increase. As the AOC, we would like to appeal to industry players to join this and other thematic topics at the inaugural African Maritime Investment Indaba they are hosting and taking place between 6 to 8 November at the Durban Exhibition Centre. For more information, click on www.africanmaritimeindaba.com
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Leo Crisp
Mobile: +27 72 444 6171
Email: media@africanoceans.org / leo@africanoceans.org
and
Executive: Strategic Partnerships
Nyeleti Mnisi
Mobile: +27 76 588 9380
Email: nyeleti@africaoceans.org
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Africa Maritime Investment Indaba aims to provide a robust African international maritime marketplace and platform for dialogue, investment, and innovation to drive growth, transformation and sustainability of Africa’s maritime market. The event will gather key stakeholders, including policymakers, industry leaders, investors, and innovators, to explore and promote opportunities for capital and project financing mobilisation to accelerate the growth and development in Africa’s maritime trade, transport and logistics industry.
The Africa Oceans Council (AOC) is an independent, international Pan African Blue Economy Business and Investment Network Organisation constituting Africa’s sustainable ocean and maritime business leadership alliance, established with the objective to bring together industry leaders and enterprises towards advancing Africa’s blue economy industries and fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration in driving Africa’s blue wealth creation, blue growth, ocean sustainability and inclusive socio-economic growth impact.
This year’s Indaba is particularly pivotal for South Africa, as it presents a strategic platform to reinforce its position as a maritime gateway and investment hub for the continent. The event will also address emerging trends such as leveraging technology for maritime efficiency, expanding intra-African trade routes, and tackling shared challenges like security in maritime zones networking with international investors, gaining insights into new funding mechanisms and identifying innovations that can enhance operational capacities across the entire maritime value chain.