This Act provides for the protection of the marine environment from pollution by oil and other harmful substances by prescribing various measures to be taken to prevent or limit pollution, by defining civil liability for oil pollution, by requiring a compulsory insurance against pollution damage and by providing for actions against insurers and compensation of damage.
Ships or installations are required to report on a (likely) discharge of oil in the internal, territorial water or EEZ of South Africa ("prohibited area"). The Act defines powers of South Africa Maritime Safety Authority to take steps to prevent pollution by oil or other harmful substances. The Act also concerns limitation of liability, court proceedings, and the issue of an compulsory insurance certificate by the Authority to a tanker.
An Act to provide for the protection of the marine environment from pollution by oil and other harmful substances, and for that purpose to provide for the prevention and combating of pollution of the sea by oil and other harmful substances; to determine liability in certain respects for loss or damage caused by the discharge of oil from ships, tankers and offshore installations; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
Date of consolidation/reprint 01 Jan 1998Consolidated version of Act No. 6 of 1981 as amended last by the South African Maritime Safety Authority Act (No. 5 of 1998).