MOSSEL BAY NEWS - After an incident earlier in February, when a fishing boat apparently nearly collided with a passenger ship in the harbour due to misty weather, Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) explained its protocols.
According to TNPA no boats are permitted to launch in fog or when there is poor visibility or when fog has been forecast for the day, unless they have the required radar equipment to navigate safely.
Communication between port control, the vessels, and the slipway management is used to provide safe navigational guidance.
"The fishing boat launched in the early morning when there was no fog and got caught in it later in the day when it made its way back to the port.
"TNPA will implement additional mitigation measures, which will include the sharing of weather information that will assist in the safety of these vessels prior to their launching at the port's slipway facilities.
One of the passenger ships that visited Mossel Bay recently. Photo: Jannie du Plessis
"It is paramount that all boats launching from the facility adhere to the port rules and regulations implemented, which have been shared with them, as well as make use of their radio equipment to communicate with port control on channels 12/16 as per the regulations.
"Any transgressors will be removed from the port and reported to SAMSA for non-compliance."
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