South Africa – Shipboard Weapons Warning

Durban correspondents Shepstone and Wylie have advised the Club of problems being encountered by vessels embarking, disembarking or carrying security personnel with firearms in South African ports. They write as follows:

“It has become common practice for vessels sailing up the East Coast of Africa, into the Gulf of Aden or via the Suez Canal, to call at South African ports to take on/disembark security personnel with weapons, alternatively with security personnel and weapons on board the vessel.

The South African authorities are taking an extremely hard line on weapons onboard vessels and a number of vessels and/or personnel have been detained or arrested in South African ports.

The potential fines and consequences, including imprisonment of personnel, are draconian in the extreme.

All Members that have vessels calling at or off South African ports MUST ensure that the necessary procedures have been followed if there are any weapons onboard such vessels, failing which there is a very real possibility of the vessel being detained, weaponry confiscated and personnel being arrested.

The exact procedures that should be followed are a little contentious. There is some confusion between what is stated in statute, compared to practice in terms of guidelines and the ISPS Port plans. It is essential that if weapons are to be loaded on or removed from a vessel, that the procedures required in terms of the South African Customs & Excise Act and requirements for the necessary permits from the South African Police Services are complied with in full. The Port Safety Officer for the relevant port must also be notified. This is a fairly complicated and time consuming procedure.

If vessels having any weapons onboard are simply visiting the ports, then there is nevertheless still a list of requirements that need to be followed regarding the reporting, storage in a lock-up safe and inspection of such weapons by the authorities when a vessel reaches the port”.

Members requiring further clarification should contact the Loss Prevention department.