11 April 2006
The South African proposal for the designation of parts of the southern sea
area as a Special Area under Annex 1 of the International Convention for the
Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978
relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78 Convention) has been approved by the
International Maritime Organisation (IMO). A special area is an area of the
sea, which, due to its oceanographic and ecological conditions, requires
special mandatory methods for the prevention of pollution from oil, noxious
liquid substances or garbage generated by ships. The IMO is the United Nations
agency responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention
of marine pollution by ships.
The work was started as a joint public-private initiative between the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), the International Fund
for Animal Welfare-South Africa (IFAW-SA), the Department of Transport (DOT)
and South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA). This was a collective
effort to find an internationally acceptable and recognised measure to control
the impact of illegal and/or irregular operational oil discharges from
international shipping. DEAT played a leading role in drafting and developing
the submission through a consultative process done in close collaboration with
DOT, SAMSA and IFAW-SA.
The proposal for the designation of the identified area as a Special Area
was based on the facts that oceanographically conditions around Agulhas Bank
(e.g. the prevailing winds, currents and waves) concentrate, retain and/or
carry the oil towards the coast; the ecological value of the identified area
includes a significant number of endemic and endangered species such as the
African penguin, Cape gannet and three cormorant species; the area has a high
biodiversity and is important for fisheries and the area has got a high
socio-economic importance, the value of coastal goods and services generated
from the proposed area are estimated to comprise about 35 percent of South
Africa's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Other interests include oil and gas
facilities; commercial, artisan and recreational fisheries; mari-culture and
recreation and eco-tourism. Measures already in place in South Africa to
protect the area include the dedicated aerial surveillance aircraft (kuswag 8)
contracted to DEAT, four environment protection vessels from DEAT and national
designation of marine protected areas.
The significance of the Special Area approval in South Africa is such that
it will deter illegal discharges of oil by highlighting the status of the area,
since it will be reflected on international navigational charts. For an
example, if a tanker wished to sail on the 50nm offshore limit no cargo oil
residues would be allowed to be discharged for the period the tanker would be
in the Special Area. For tankers engaged in the coastal trade with South
Africa, the requirement would be that slops would be retained on board for
discharge into an adequate waste reception facility in the port. The Special
Area would effectively extend the 50nm exclusion zone over the Agulhas Bank to
create a larger buffer zone where the operational pumping of oil will be
sufficiently far off shore to protect the coast in this very sensitive and high
risk area. The designated area, which is part of South Africa's continental
shelf waters, extends from the Spoeg River north of St Helena Bay on the West
Coast protrudes around the Agulhas Bank southeast of Cape Town and stretches
all the way to East London on the east coast.
About 203 million tonnes of crude and bunker fuel is transported through the
Special Area each year. The approval will assist South Africa in meeting its
national and international obligations for environmental protection and
pollution reduction as well as the conservation of biological diversity.
Approximately 1400 vessels operate in the special area of which about 500 call
on ports in South Africa. Of these there is an estimated 225 tankers operating
in this area per month.
However, given the MARPOL amendment procedures, IMO procedures will cause
the South African designation to only come into effect in February 2008.
Contacts:
Collen Msibi
Tel: (012) 309 3214
Department of Transport
Carol Moses
Tel: (021) 402 3556
Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism
Issued by: Department of Transport and Department of Environmental Affairs
and Tourism
11 April 2006
Source: SAPA
