Date: 19/10/2006
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Fishing Vessel Safety Indaba
Address at the Fishing Vessel Safety Indaba, by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, Waterfront, Cape Town
It is an honour for me to be at this Fishing Vessel Safety Indaba today and to engage on this very challenging subject of safety in the fishing industry.
The contribution of the fishing industry to the economic growth of the country cannot be underestimated. In real terms it may appear minimal compared to other industries such as mining, manufacturing, telecommunications and the like, however, its socio-economic impact is phenomenal. In many coastal communities fishing provides for basic livelihood without which there can be no community.
Our economy is calling for sustainable investment in infrastructure, human resources and efficient transport services that safeguards lives and economic growth. The maritime industry is not an exception to this sustainability. The greatest challenge facing the fishing vessel industry is the safety of the personnel, infrastructure and equipment such as vessels. Whilst every business involves a degree of risk to life, the fishing industry is highly exposed to immense risks everyday. Those who ply their trade in this environment are continuously exposed to high and rough tides that have a potential of serious injuries or even the loss of life, skills limitations as well as poor state of infrastructure to do business. These are realities that the fishing industry, communities, government and other stakeholders must address if the fishing industry is to remain sustainable and an economic backbone of some coastal communities as well as the key contributor to the economy. In spite of these challenges, the fishing industry remains determined to continue their trade and such, their working conditions must be improved.
This season we are advised that for the Lobster boats, besides the issue of quotas, weather conditions have reduced their catch by about 50 percent. This may result in the temptations of fishers to want to brave the harsh weather conditions to make up for this loss. Whilst the immediate financial impact is appreciated, the unnecessary exposure to the risk to life is never justifiable, and we appeal to those in this business not to yield to this temptation.
Statistics from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) indicate that in the recent past there have been a considerable number of accidents resulting in the loss of life which is deeply regretted. For the period 1996 to 2005 about 269 fishers lost their lives at sea. In 2005, 25 fishers lost their lives at sea in 12 separate incidents. This indeed indicates a need for a concerted strategy to overcome this challenge.
The major incident recorded in 2005 was the collision between the Lindsay and the Ouro do Brasil, where about 14 crewmembers of the Lindsay died after the vessels were in a collision. The Marine Court of Inquiry that the Minister convened to investigate the circumstances of the cause of the collision, emphasised a need for the development of a safety culture within the fishing industry.
The findings by the Marine Court of Inquiry are very clear and do not warrant a debate in so far as they relate to the provision of safety within this industry. Consequently, the Department together with SAMSA are now reinforcing the best ways of delivering safety to the fishing industry. We recognise that safety is a function of many things including information availability and accessibility, training and development of skills of those in the industry and potential entrants, proper legislation and regulations as well as proper compliance with and enforcement of the legislation and regulations.
Every level of business or investment must as a necessity prioritise the issues of safety and security, human capacity development for the sustainability of the industry. We are vigilant in the implementation of the safety requirements and we will deal decisively with those authorities that do not resolve matters leading to accidents. The Department in collaboration with SAMSA will take the following corrective actions to address various findings from the Marine Court of Inquiry:
* Enforce the existing traffic separations schemes to keep fishing vessels and commercial vessels apart as well as investigate the possibility, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), of introducing more of these where they do not exist. You will note that similar schemes were approved in 1998 by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO around the Mossgas FA and the Alphard Banks. The challenge is to continuously monitor their effectiveness.
* Review the regulations that require various electronic navigation and anti-collision equipment to ensure that fishing vessels are equipped with modern aids to avoid accidents at an affordable cost.
* Fast track the promulgation of the training and certification regulations which have already been published for comment.
Experience tells us that there is a tendency to act when there has been a major incident. This culture should be rooted out completely. Safety measures that are introduced to save lives and protect the integrity and sustainability of the industry should become the safety culture that we all live by as was correctly held by the Marine Court of Inquiry.
South Africa is committed to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) programme and supports and learns from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries that depend on fishing as a means of income. The Department through SAMSA will ensure that proper training needs are covered and safety mechanisms are established to enhance the culture of safety in their fishing community. Discussions with marine and coastal management have commenced with a view to enlarging the scope of responsibilities for the fisheries control officers and to identify and report unsafe vessels and operating practices.
SAMSA will also support the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) by assisting them to identify the training needs and have access to funding. The National Skills Fund funded the small boat fishing project to the tune of R32 million. The project started in 2002 and ran for three years under the management structures of TETA and a localised task team was appointed to oversee implementation.
The goal was to provide relevant, aligned learning to 1 750 learners currently employed by Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) within the fishing sector. All training initiatives were aimed at SMMEs, which equated mainly to the previously disadvantaged fishing community, especially those that were given quotas that they could not use effectively because of lack of competencies.
The objective of this indaba will not be attained if the industry and other players do not address the contributory factors to the courses of accidents such as defects found on some of the fishing vessels, and complacency found amongst fishers onboard. As a matter of fact research has shown that the majority of accidents occur as a result of the human factor, hence the IMO has taken great interest in addressing this matter. In addition, the Department is already closing the gap on non-compliance with safety standards by forming a strong partnership with the Department of Labour which sets minimum employment conditions.
To ensure that safety is not compromised in an unlikely event of an accident, government established though an Act of Parliament the South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) organisation.
It is appropriate to pay homage to the search and rescue community who dedicate their lives to saving lives of people who are exposed to tempestuous conditions at sea. The critical nature of this service has been acknowledged by the IMO in creating an award for recognition of bravery at sea. We should therefore continuously strive to identify those who excel in this dangerous and yet rewarding course.
SASAR is charged with the co-ordination of all aeronautical and maritime accidents and/or incidents within South Africa's area of responsibility, which includes our flight information region and sea area.
In an endeavour to deal swiftly with all incidents or accidents occurring in our maritime search and rescue region, a dedicated Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) has been created and managed by SAMSA on behalf of my Department since 2004. The MRCC operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. It is situated in Plattekloof, Cape Town.
The IMO, at its 23rd session of assembly, adopted a resolution to establish the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS) with the aim of assisting Member States to improve their safety, search and rescue capabilities.
The objective of the scheme is to determine to what extent are Member States implementing and enforcing the applicable IMO instruments. In order to achieve this, the audit scheme will:
* assess the compliance with the code for the implementation of mandatory IMO instruments
* observe that the Member State has enacted legislation for the applicable IMO instruments relating to maritime safety and prevention of pollution to which it is a party
* foster capacity-building and the provision of related technical assistance
* provide the audited Member State with feedback to assist in improving its capacity to implement the applicable IMO instruments.
The adoption of the voluntary audit scheme will undoubtedly lead to mandatory quality management for our maritime administration.
I hope that after today's fishing vessel safety indaba, the fishing community will re-visit safety issues with more determined efforts to alleviate the high loss of life from our fishing vessels and the hardship suffered by the families of our fisher-folk. The training, employment and empowerment of our previously disadvantaged people are very serious concerns. Without these, there can be no equity or growth in the maritime industry.
In conclusion, I urge all in the maritime industry to make significant contributions to our economy by safeguarding the fishing industry through investment in safety programmes, safe vessels and skilled personnel.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Transport
19 October 2006
Source: Department of Transport
Title: Radebe: Fishing Vessel Safety Indaba
Address at the Fishing Vessel Safety Indaba, by Mr Jeff Radebe, MP, Minister of Transport, Waterfront, Cape Town
It is an honour for me to be at this Fishing Vessel Safety Indaba today and to engage on this very challenging subject of safety in the fishing industry.
The contribution of the fishing industry to the economic growth of the country cannot be underestimated. In real terms it may appear minimal compared to other industries such as mining, manufacturing, telecommunications and the like, however, its socio-economic impact is phenomenal. In many coastal communities fishing provides for basic livelihood without which there can be no community.
Our economy is calling for sustainable investment in infrastructure, human resources and efficient transport services that safeguards lives and economic growth. The maritime industry is not an exception to this sustainability. The greatest challenge facing the fishing vessel industry is the safety of the personnel, infrastructure and equipment such as vessels. Whilst every business involves a degree of risk to life, the fishing industry is highly exposed to immense risks everyday. Those who ply their trade in this environment are continuously exposed to high and rough tides that have a potential of serious injuries or even the loss of life, skills limitations as well as poor state of infrastructure to do business. These are realities that the fishing industry, communities, government and other stakeholders must address if the fishing industry is to remain sustainable and an economic backbone of some coastal communities as well as the key contributor to the economy. In spite of these challenges, the fishing industry remains determined to continue their trade and such, their working conditions must be improved.
This season we are advised that for the Lobster boats, besides the issue of quotas, weather conditions have reduced their catch by about 50 percent. This may result in the temptations of fishers to want to brave the harsh weather conditions to make up for this loss. Whilst the immediate financial impact is appreciated, the unnecessary exposure to the risk to life is never justifiable, and we appeal to those in this business not to yield to this temptation.
Statistics from the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) indicate that in the recent past there have been a considerable number of accidents resulting in the loss of life which is deeply regretted. For the period 1996 to 2005 about 269 fishers lost their lives at sea. In 2005, 25 fishers lost their lives at sea in 12 separate incidents. This indeed indicates a need for a concerted strategy to overcome this challenge.
The major incident recorded in 2005 was the collision between the Lindsay and the Ouro do Brasil, where about 14 crewmembers of the Lindsay died after the vessels were in a collision. The Marine Court of Inquiry that the Minister convened to investigate the circumstances of the cause of the collision, emphasised a need for the development of a safety culture within the fishing industry.
The findings by the Marine Court of Inquiry are very clear and do not warrant a debate in so far as they relate to the provision of safety within this industry. Consequently, the Department together with SAMSA are now reinforcing the best ways of delivering safety to the fishing industry. We recognise that safety is a function of many things including information availability and accessibility, training and development of skills of those in the industry and potential entrants, proper legislation and regulations as well as proper compliance with and enforcement of the legislation and regulations.
Every level of business or investment must as a necessity prioritise the issues of safety and security, human capacity development for the sustainability of the industry. We are vigilant in the implementation of the safety requirements and we will deal decisively with those authorities that do not resolve matters leading to accidents. The Department in collaboration with SAMSA will take the following corrective actions to address various findings from the Marine Court of Inquiry:
* Enforce the existing traffic separations schemes to keep fishing vessels and commercial vessels apart as well as investigate the possibility, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), of introducing more of these where they do not exist. You will note that similar schemes were approved in 1998 by the Maritime Safety Committee of the IMO around the Mossgas FA and the Alphard Banks. The challenge is to continuously monitor their effectiveness.
* Review the regulations that require various electronic navigation and anti-collision equipment to ensure that fishing vessels are equipped with modern aids to avoid accidents at an affordable cost.
* Fast track the promulgation of the training and certification regulations which have already been published for comment.
Experience tells us that there is a tendency to act when there has been a major incident. This culture should be rooted out completely. Safety measures that are introduced to save lives and protect the integrity and sustainability of the industry should become the safety culture that we all live by as was correctly held by the Marine Court of Inquiry.
South Africa is committed to the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) programme and supports and learns from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries that depend on fishing as a means of income. The Department through SAMSA will ensure that proper training needs are covered and safety mechanisms are established to enhance the culture of safety in their fishing community. Discussions with marine and coastal management have commenced with a view to enlarging the scope of responsibilities for the fisheries control officers and to identify and report unsafe vessels and operating practices.
SAMSA will also support the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) by assisting them to identify the training needs and have access to funding. The National Skills Fund funded the small boat fishing project to the tune of R32 million. The project started in 2002 and ran for three years under the management structures of TETA and a localised task team was appointed to oversee implementation.
The goal was to provide relevant, aligned learning to 1 750 learners currently employed by Small Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) within the fishing sector. All training initiatives were aimed at SMMEs, which equated mainly to the previously disadvantaged fishing community, especially those that were given quotas that they could not use effectively because of lack of competencies.
The objective of this indaba will not be attained if the industry and other players do not address the contributory factors to the courses of accidents such as defects found on some of the fishing vessels, and complacency found amongst fishers onboard. As a matter of fact research has shown that the majority of accidents occur as a result of the human factor, hence the IMO has taken great interest in addressing this matter. In addition, the Department is already closing the gap on non-compliance with safety standards by forming a strong partnership with the Department of Labour which sets minimum employment conditions.
To ensure that safety is not compromised in an unlikely event of an accident, government established though an Act of Parliament the South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) organisation.
It is appropriate to pay homage to the search and rescue community who dedicate their lives to saving lives of people who are exposed to tempestuous conditions at sea. The critical nature of this service has been acknowledged by the IMO in creating an award for recognition of bravery at sea. We should therefore continuously strive to identify those who excel in this dangerous and yet rewarding course.
SASAR is charged with the co-ordination of all aeronautical and maritime accidents and/or incidents within South Africa's area of responsibility, which includes our flight information region and sea area.
In an endeavour to deal swiftly with all incidents or accidents occurring in our maritime search and rescue region, a dedicated Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) has been created and managed by SAMSA on behalf of my Department since 2004. The MRCC operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 365 days a year. It is situated in Plattekloof, Cape Town.
The IMO, at its 23rd session of assembly, adopted a resolution to establish the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme (VIMSAS) with the aim of assisting Member States to improve their safety, search and rescue capabilities.
The objective of the scheme is to determine to what extent are Member States implementing and enforcing the applicable IMO instruments. In order to achieve this, the audit scheme will:
* assess the compliance with the code for the implementation of mandatory IMO instruments
* observe that the Member State has enacted legislation for the applicable IMO instruments relating to maritime safety and prevention of pollution to which it is a party
* foster capacity-building and the provision of related technical assistance
* provide the audited Member State with feedback to assist in improving its capacity to implement the applicable IMO instruments.
The adoption of the voluntary audit scheme will undoubtedly lead to mandatory quality management for our maritime administration.
I hope that after today's fishing vessel safety indaba, the fishing community will re-visit safety issues with more determined efforts to alleviate the high loss of life from our fishing vessels and the hardship suffered by the families of our fisher-folk. The training, employment and empowerment of our previously disadvantaged people are very serious concerns. Without these, there can be no equity or growth in the maritime industry.
In conclusion, I urge all in the maritime industry to make significant contributions to our economy by safeguarding the fishing industry through investment in safety programmes, safe vessels and skilled personnel.
I thank you!
Issued by: Department of Transport
19 October 2006
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