To operate a local fishing vessel in South Africa, the vessel must be registered with the South African flag state. You must apply for a safety certificate from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) and a fishing vessel licence from the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in Cape Town.
To qualify, you must be a:
- South African with full ownership and control of the vessel, or
- a body corporate, society or other association registered in South Africa in which a South African controls the majority of shares and voting rights.
A local fishing vessel includes all gear, equipment, stores, cargo and fuel on board. It may also include assisting one or more vessels at sea in the performance of any activity relating to fishing.
These activities include, but are not limited to:
- preparation
- supply
- storage
- refrigeration
- transportation or processing
- direct engagement in fishing activities within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)/international waters under the flag state of South Africa.
Note: It is unlawful to use an unregistered vessel. If you do not have fishing rights, you must have a contract with the fishing right holder to operate your vessel.
A commercially registered fishing vessel may not be used for recreational purposes.
Commercially registered fishing vessels are linked to a specific fishing right and can be used for that right only.
The validity period of the fishing vessel license is linked to the validity period of the SAMSA certificate. The fishing vessel licence is valid for the same period as the SAMSA certificate.
SAMSA SKIPPER LICENSES
The Small Vessel Code lays out the different levels of competence that a candidate must achieve in order to obtain a certificate for the level desired.
To operate a vessel, smaller or equal to 9 meters with an engine larger than 15hp – jet skis included, on dams, rivers, sea and in harbours in South Africa, a skipper license is required. The penalties for operating without a license are high and inspectors are clamping down on those operating without a license.
The following license categories are available:
- Category R: This covers all inland waters, estuaries, lagoons & ports
- Category E: Vessels only going 1Nm offshore
- Category C: Vessels going up to 15Nm offshore
- Category B: Vessels going up to 40Nm offshore
- Skipper Coastal (Pleasure)
- Skipper Coastal (Commercial)
- Skipper Offshore (Pleasure)
- Skipper Offshore (Commercial)
It is possible to skip categories – i.e skip E and doing C by attending a sea academy where the instructor will take the student through the different levels.
REQUIREMENTS
Categories ‘R’ and ‘E’ are the entry levels for skippers to start their boating experience. One can start in either, the difference being the boating hours – see below for more details.
R-LICENSE – Dams and Rivers
The license which allows the holder to operate on dams, rivers, lakes, lagoons and harbours in South Africa.
- Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
- Four passport/id photos
- Medical certificate
- Log of a minimum of 25 hours on dams or rivers. To be signed by the applicant/student.
- Pass the exam.
E-LICENSE – 1 Nautical mile from the coast and maximum 15 nautical miles from a safe port of entry.
- Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
- Four passport/id photos
- Medical certificate
- Log of a minimum of 50 hours on the sea. To be signed off by a licensed sea skipper.
- Certified copy of the sea Skipper’s license.
- Certified copy of the sea Skipper’s ID
- A sworn statement by the sea Skipper that the hours reflected are correct and true.
- Pass the exam.
For course facilities near you – click here.
You can now study online for category R and E and only write the SAMSA exam with one of our affiliated examiners when you are ready. Click here for more info.
Upgrading from R to E
The syllabus for R and E is the same, but the sea-time requirements are different. Hence a person can upgrade his Skipper Inland Waters (unrestricted) to a Day Skipper Category E by producing practical sea-time alone. (Marine Notice 13 of 2011 para. 10.3.1.2)
C-LICENSE – 15 Nautical mile from the coast and maximum 15 nautical miles from an approved launch site.
- Copy of ID document (must be 16 years or older)
- Two passport/id photos
- Medical certificate
- Log of a minimum of 25 hours on a minimum category D vessel at sea. To be signed off by a licensed sea skipper with a skipper license C or higher.
- Certified copy of the sea Skipper’s license.
- Certified copy of the sea Skipper’s ID
- A sworn statement by the sea Skipper that the hours reflected are correct and true.
- Pass the exam on 4 more advanced subjects and practical on navigation.
For course facilities near you – click here.
B-LICENSE – 40 Nautical mile from the coast
The B category is an upgrade from C and needs a minimum of 25 hours experimental training signed of by a licensed skipper.
Surf Launching Endorsement
A sea skipper license does not give the holder the right to launch from a beach and need a endorsement on the license to do so. There is two ways to achieve this:
- Attend a formal course at the coast where the SAMSA approved examiner will then test the applicant over a minimum of 4 days – 3 launches per day.
- Do the training under the supervision of a licensed sea skipper who has a surf launch endorsement. Training must be conducted under different sea and weather conditions with at least 3 launches per day. Once the sea skipper is confident that student can launch in a safe and responsible manner, he/she has to do a signed affidavit, under oath, specified the launches completed and that the student is ready to be tested. The student then arrange with a SAMSA approved examiner to test him/her over two days and, if successful, will receive the endorsement.
What you should do
- Arrange for the vessel to undergo a SAMSA sea-worthy evaluation procedure to get a safety certificate.
- Download the Application for a local fishing vessel licence. Complete the form in capital letters.
- Attach:
- a certified copy of your current Samsa certificate
- a certified copy of agreement with right holder (only applicable if you are not a right holder)
- a certified copy of a radio call sign (if applicable)
- a letter of authorisation (applicable if a third party applies on behalf of vessel owner).
- Pay the prescribed fee into the following account:
Bank: First National Bank
Account number: 62123256382
Account type: Current
Account name: Marine Living Resources Fund
Branch name: Corporate Account Services CapeTown
Branch code: 204-109
Call the customer service centre at 021 402 3911 / 086 000 3474 for a reference.
You can also pay in cash or by means of an electronic fund transfer (EFT). Please note that if the EFT was not done from First National Bank there will be a 24-hour delay. - Send the application to the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Private Bag X2, Roggebaai, Cape Town, 8012.
- Fax your proof of payment to the Customer Service Centre at 021 402 3362/3081/3670 and request confirmation of payment.
- Alternatively, visit the Customer Services Centre, Ground Floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town to apply. Please bring certified copies of the required documents and the required fees.
How long does it take
The application may take three working days or more, from date of confirmation of payment, provided you have lodged your application properly.
How much does it cost
Tariffs for each service is reflected on the application form.
Contact any SAMSA office for cost information for a safety certificate.
Forms to complete
Application for a local fishing vessel licence
Who to contact
Fisheries Customer Service Centre:
Tel 021 402 3911 / 086 000 3474
Fax 021 402 3362
Physical address: Ground Floor, Foretrust Building, Martin Hammerschlag Way, Foreshore, Cape Town 8000
Postal address: Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Private Bag X2, Roggebaai, Cape Town, 8012
Website: www.daff.gov.za
Contact details for SAMSA
Source: skippercourses.co.za, gov.za