National Ports Act, 2005 (Act No. 12 of 2005)RulesPorts RulesChapter 2 : Vessel Movements and Related MattersPart H : General56. Incidents in the approaches and within ports |
| (1) | The master of a vessel that is within or about to enter the approaches to a port or within port limits must ensure that a report is made to the Harbour Master about any of the following matters as soon as the master becomes aware of them: |
| (a) | the occurrence on board the vessel of any fire or explosion; |
| (b) | the involvement of the vessel in a collision, grounding or striking; |
| (c) | any defect in the vessels hull, main propulsion systems or steering systems, radars, compasses, radio equipment, anchors or cables; |
| (d) | any discharge or threat of discharge of dangerous goods or other harmful substances from the vessel into the water; |
| (e) | another vessel in apparent difficulty; |
| (f) | any obstruction to navigation; |
| (g) | any aid to navigation that is functioning improperly, damaged, off-position or missing; |
| (h) | the presence of any dangerous goods or harmful substances in the water; |
| (i) | the presence of a vessel that may impede the safe movement of other vessels; |
| (j) | any weather conditions that are detrimental to safe navigation; |
| (k) | any matter that may affect the safety and security of the vessel, its crew or passengers and the port, or any matter that may affect the environment; and |
| (I) | any other navigational or environmental incident. |
| (2) | The owner or master of a vessel that has been involved in any navigational incident within the approaches to or in a port, or any environmental incident within a port, whether or not damage is done to any property, including underwater property, must — |
| (a) | immediately report the incident to the Harbour Master as well as any other applicable regulatory body or government department; |
| (b) | submit to the Harbour Master a full written report setting out the circumstances of the incident, within 24 hours after the accident or before the departure of the vessel from the port, whichever is the sooner; and |
| (c) | furnish any further particulars that the Harbour Master may require. |