Abstract:
The history of the South African maritime sector mirrors the history and evolution of South
Africa, pre and post the 1994 political transition of the country. Due to heavy economic
sanctions and the looming 1994 (and beyond) era, most of the ships were de-registered
and placed on foreign registries. South Africa significantly depends on international trade
for its transport needs, and around 2008, foreign vessels almost solely provided this
service as only one (1) convention vessel remained on the SA Register - down from
fifty-two (52) in the 1970s. About 98% of South Africa’s imports and exports are carried by
merchant ships owned and operated by foreign companies and flagged in foreign
jurisdictions. South Africa’s status as a maritime state has, regrettably, weakened over the
last 20 years, resulting in the merchant shipping register being diminished and a market
perception developing that the SA flag is uncompetitive. This was largely caused by an
“unattractive” flag as the country fell behind in keeping up with international developments
in this regard. This diminished fleet on the SA ship register also created a problem for the
country of being unable to provide berths for the South African cadets. The aim of the
South African ship register promotion plan is to assist South African flag to grow the fleet
and this will assist South Africa to reclaim its rightful status as a maritime nation. A larger
fleet under the South African registry will empower the country’s positioning in the global
value chain and can create significant economic spin-offs through repatriated wages and
the development of domestic industries. The presentation will covers the incentives of the
South African ship register.
