General Information

The Information on this web page covers the legal requirements for the certification of small recreational vessels less than 100 Gross Tonnes and the Registration of vessels going foreign.

Recreational Sailing vessels > 9m in length and recreational power vessels >15HP

• In terms of the National Small Vessel Safety Regulations (2007) Recreational sailing vessels ≥ 9m in length and recreational power vessels >15HP must have an approved marking.
• They also require an annual safety inspection in order to obtain a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) or – if registered to go foreign as a SA flagged vessel– a Local General Safety Certificate (LGSC).
• SA Sailing is authorised to issue approved markings, conduct safety inspections and issue CoF’s

• Vessels which "go foreign" must be registered. The country of registration is known as the vessel’s flag state.
• The information on this web page does not cover three rather different requirements:
• Skippers of recreational sailing vessels ≥ 9m in length (and recreational power vessels >15HP) must have Certificate of Competence (CoC) – informally known as a skipper’s ticket. SA Sailing is authorised to issue CoC’s for recreational vessels under 100 GT. Click here to find out more.
• Yachts which wish to take part in one design class races require a measurement certificate to demonstrate that they comply with the class rules. Measurement certificates must be registered with SA Sailing. See the section on Measurement certificate requirements.
• Commercial sailing and power vessels can only be certified by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) directly.

Recreational Sailing vessels <9m in length and recreational power vessels <15HP

• In terms of the National Small Vessel Safety Regulations (2007), recreational sailing vessels < 9m and recreational power vessels ≤15HP do not require an approved marking or a safety certificate, and the skipper does not require a CoC., but they must still meet the construction and safety equipment requirements defined in the National Small Vessel Safety Regulations.

However, some yacht clubs insist that sailing vessels < 9m must have a CoF and the skippers must have a CoC.

Documentation required on board

You are required to have the following documentation (or a certified copy) on board:

1. Recreational sailing vessels ≥9m and recreational power vessels >15HP are required to have a valid safety certificate (CoF or LGSC), and the skipper is required to have a valid skipper’s ticket.
2. Vessels with a VHF radio or other radio equipment such as an MF/HF SSB radio or an EPIRB must have a valid Ship Station.
3. Licence for the vessel, and the person operating the radio must have a valid Radio Operator’s Certificate
4. Vessels with an EPIRB are required to have documentary evidence that the EPIRB has been registered with the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC). To find out more about EPIRB registration.

Listing Your Vessel to Obtain an Approved Marking

When you list your boat, you get an "SA" number (e.g. SA 4567) if it is a sailing boat, or a "ZA" number (e.g. ZA 1234) if it is a powerboat. The SA or ZA number must be displayed on the hull of your boat.

If you wish to change your vessel's name, you must apply for a new certificate of listing. The SA or ZA number does not change. The charge for a name change is less than the charge for a change of ownership.

In order to get a Certificate of Fitness from SA Sailing you need to list your yacht under your name on the SA Sailing database. Listing requires proof of ownership as described on the application forms

Click here to download the application forms for listing your vessel:

The costs for listing your vessel are based on vessel length as defined in the National Small Vessel Safety Regulations and are given in the table below:

Our bank details are FNB Pinelands, Branch No 260-209, Account No 6274 7183 995. As a reference please use CoL plus the vessel name or marking e.g. “CoL SA1234” or "CoL Summersalt.

Registration of Vessels

To leave South Africa or to arrive in a foreign country, your yacht must be registered. The country of registration is known as the yacht’s “flag state”. Unfortunately, a SA Sailing Certificate of Listing is not a South African Registration.

SAMSA Registrations

Registering your yacht on the South African register must be done through SAMSA. The Registrar of Ships is based in the SAMSA Cape Town office.

For a fee, SA Sailing can help in the registration process. For logistical reasons, we strongly recommend that owners based in KZN work through the SA Sailing Offices in Durban. In Cape Town, many owners prefer to work directly with SAMSA.

If you would like SA Sailing to help with the registration process, please contact the Durban or Cape Town office.

Please note that SA registration is a formal process and can take some time, particularly if your documentation is poor. Please start early. For example, the registration process requires you to have a Ship Station (radio) Licence in the name of the owner. The process of getting a Ship Station Licence can take several months.

Please note that there are some important formalities associated with South African registration. For example:

• Your registration expires automatically after five years. It is important to renew your registration before it expires, otherwise you will have to start the process all over again.

It is a serious offence to sell a SA registered vessel or to change the name of a SA registered vessel without informing the Registrar. The fines can be very significant.

Foreign Registered Vessels

Marine Notice 15 of 2018 defines the requirements for foreign registered recreational vessels in SA waters. Briefly:

 Foreign registered vessels passing through SA waters have the “right of innocent passage”. That includes coming into designated entry ports for repairs and supplies. These vessels do not need a CoF.

 Visiting foreign registered vessels that want to cruise or take part in races in SA waters need a CoF. SA Sailing is authorised to issue a 6-month CoF to visiting foreign registered vessels.

 Foreign registered vessels which are based in SA on a more permanent basis must meet the full requirements of the National Small Vessel Safety Regulations. So they need both an approved marking and a CoF. The way SA Sailing issues an approved marking is by issuing a Certificate of Listing (CoL).

 Essentially what this means is that if you want a CoF from SA Sailing for a foreign registered yacht based in SA, you must first get it listed by SA Sailing and mark it with the appropriate SA or ZA marking. You can retain your foreign registration – and any markings required by that foreign registration.

Vessels registered by SAMSA on the SA ships register

Vessels registered by SAMSA on the SA register of ships require a Local General Safety Certificate (LGSC) instead of a CoF.  SA Sailing is not allowed to issue a CoF for a SAMSA-registered vessel – SAMSA regards that as a serious offence.  An LGSC can only be issued by SAMSA.  On a SAMSA-registered vessel, the safety inspection or the hull inspection may only be carried out by a SAMSA Small Vessel Surveyor.  A few SA Sailing Safety Officers have been appointed as SAMSA Small Vessel Surveyors. Link to SA Sailing SAMSA Small Vessel Surveyors.

1. The owner should declare it on page 2 of the safety inspection check sheet.
2. You need to ask the owner if the vessel is registered in order to fill in that block on the notification of completion of survey.
3. The vessel should have a plaque prominently displayed on a bulkhead or some other prominent position inside the vessel.
4. Vessels registered more recently will have the O/N number and the port of registration inscribed on the transom.

We recognise that this process is not fool proof, and some owners may purchase a vessel that is SAMSA registered without realising that it is registered, or clearly understanding what that means.   

Safety Inspections, CoF's and LGSC's

The safety requirements for a Certificate of Fitness (COF) or a Local General Safety Certificate (LGSC) are specified in the Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations of 2007 as amended. Most of the safety requirements for pleasure vessels are detailed in Annexure 1 and 2 of these regulations.

Note that the regulations specify minimum requirements. For example, the regulations does not allow you to cross an ocean without:

• A GPS or chartplotter or sextant to fix your position
• A log to allow you to maintain workable DR
• A depth sounder to warn you of an approaching coastline
• An SSB radio or sat phone for mid ocean communication in a medical or other emergency
• Jackstays and harnesses to allow crew to clip on when working on the foredeck at night or in bad weather

It is up to the skipper to decide what additional equipment is appropriate and affordable for any particular voyage. The World Sailing Offshore Special Regulations provide a useful reference.

Certificate of Fitness – COF’s

• SA Sailing is authorised to do safety inspections and issue CoF’s for recreational vessels less than 100 GT provided they are not registered in South Africa.

To get a COF your vessel has to be listed with SA Sailing and inspected by an SA Sailing Safety Officer or a "SAMSA approved SA Sailing appointed Safety Surveyor" (referred to as a SA Sailing Vessel Safety Surveyor).

Local General Safety Certificate (LGSC)

• Vessels registered in SA require an Local General Safety Certificate (LGSC) rather than a CoF. Some SA Sailing safety officers are authorised to do safety inspections for vessels registered in SA, but the LGSC must be issued by SAMSA

To get a LGSC your vessel has to be listed with SA Sailing, registered by SAMSA and inspected by a SA Sailing Vessel Safety Surveyor.

Your first step is to click on the application button above and complete the application and pay for your safety survey. Costs and bank details are given here. You can then arrange a survey with a Safety Officer or Safety Surveyor. If that is not convenient, the SA Sailing office can appoint one for you. You will also need to decide what category of COF you want for your boat. Then download the safety inspection check sheet. You need to complete the safety inspection check sheet before the safety survey. COFs and LGSCs are only valid for one year from the date of the safety inspection.

 Safety Inspections Check Sheets

Covid 19 CoF Safety Inspection - Declaration by the Safety Officer

*Note: The Covid 19 Safety Inspection Declaration by Owner is no longer required. 

It is the responsibility of the owner or his representative to prepare the vessel for the safety inspection. You need to complete and sign the safety inspection check sheet before the safety survey. The safety officer will refuse to the safety inspection until the check sheets have been completed

Download the safety inspection check sheet appropriate to your sailing vessel

 CATEGORY A - RECREATIONAL
SAILING VESSEL OPERATING
ANY DISTANCE FROM SHORE

 CATEGORY B - RECREATIONAL
SALING VESSEL OPERATING LESS THAN
40 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

CATEGORY C - RECREATIONAL
SALING VESSEL OPERATING LESS THAN
15 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

CATEGORY D - RECREATIONAL
SALING VESSEL OPERATING LESS THAN
5 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

CATEGORY E - RECREATIONAL SALING VESSEL OPERATING NOT
MORE THAN 1 NAUTICAL MILE FROM SHORE AND 15 NAUTICAL
MILES FROM AN APPROVED LAUNCH SITE

CATEGORY R - RECREATIONAL
SALING VESSEL OPERATING SOLEY
ON SHELTERED WATERS 

Download the safety inspection check sheet appropriate to your power driven vessel.

CATEGORY A - RECREATIONAL
POWER DRIVEN VESSEL OPERATING
ANY DISTANCE FROM SHORE

CATEGORY B - RECREATIONAL
POWER DRIVEN VESSEL OPERATING
LESS THAN 40 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

CATEGORY C - RECREATIONAL
POWER DRIVEN VESSEL OPERATING
LESS THAN 15 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

CATEGORY D - RECREATIONAL
POWER DRIVEN VESSEL OPERATING
LESS THAN 5 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE

CATEGORY E- RECREATIONAL POWER DRIVEN VESSEL OPERATING
NOT MORE THAN 1 NAUTICAL MILES FROM SHORE AND 15 NAUTICAL
MILES FROM AN APPROVED LAUNCH SITE

CATEGORY R - RECREATIONAL
POWER VESSEL OPERATING SOLEY
ON SHELTERED WATERS

Hull Inspection Procedure

The procedure for a hull inspection by a safety officer is described on the hull inspection check sheet:

Our details are FNB Pinelands, Branch no260-209, Account no 62747183995. As reference, please use the ME Number as provided to you on the invoice generated when making your application.

You must bring your hull inspection check sheet and proof of payment to the hull inspection. Once the safety officer has signed off the hull inspection, he will sign on to the certificate system and upload both the check sheet and the proof of payment.

Please note that the system will not accept the hull inspection unless the safety officer uploads both the check sheet and the proof of payment.

The SA Sailing certificate administrator will check the uploaded documents and approve the hull inspection. Approving the hull inspection will trigger an automatic email to you with your hull inspection certificate.

To extend the hull inspection, you do the hull inspection yourself and submit it to SA Sailing – preferably electronically. The system will issue you with an extension to your hull inspection certificate.

Once you have uploaded your proof of payment, you need to contact a safety officer to arrange for the hull inspection. You are required to complete the Hull Inspection Check Sheet before the safety officer arrives for the hull inspection. He will not inspect the hull until you have completed that process

The hull inspection should take place when the hull has been cleaned but before it is antifouled.

You will receive your hull inspection certificate by email.

Registering your EPIRB

EPIRB's (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and PLB's (Personal Locator Beacons) have saved thousands of lives. Unfortunately, there is a serious problem with false alarms. The US Coast Guard quotes a figure of 96%. Because of the high false alarm rate, Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCC’s) will attempt to validate the alarm before initiating expensive rescue exercises such as diverting a large commercial vessel in mid ocean. That is where registration your EPIRB with the appropriate MRCC is so important. The registration data provides the MRCC with the means to attempt to contact the vessel and to get in touch with contact persons. Failure to register your EPIRB can result in serious delays. It is a legal requirement to have proof of registration on board.

SA vessels must register their EPIRB’s with the MRCC in Cape Town. The registration form is given below. Further details are given in the Marine Notice.

The MRCC will send you a proof of confirmation. A vessel with an EPIRB will not pass a safety inspection unless you provide the safety officer safety officer with that proof of registration.

Marine Notice 20 of 2021

Foreign registered vessels will get a ship station licence from their flag state. The first three digits on that MMSI number will be a country code specific to that flag state. The MRCC in Cape Town will not be able to register that EPIRB. The EPIRB must be registered with the appropriate rescue authority in that flag state.

The SA Sailing Bank details are as follows:

As a reference please use the ME number as provided to you on the invoice generated when you make your application.

SA Sailing is a non-profit organisation managed by volunteers. Our prices do no more than cover our costs which include VAT, a small honourarium to safety officers and the cost of running a certification scheme to the standards demanded by SAMSA.

Procedural Guidelines for Safety Officers

The SAMSA Small Vessel Surveyor’s Course covers the technical aspects of safety inspections but does not cover the specifics of the SA Sailing systems and paperwork.  The purpose of the guidelines below is to close that gap

Procedural Guidelines for Safety Officers