SAMSA confirms it has received instruction to launch a safety inspection of all commercial fishing vessels in the wake of the latest deep-sea accident involving the FV Armana.
All 20 crew of the FV Armana were safely rescued from the vessel, which caught fire about 60 nautical miles south of Gansbaai. However, the vessel was lost and is presumed sunk.
“I must express my concern about the increasing number of incidents involving fishing vessels in our waters,” Transport Minister Barbara Creecy said in a statement issued shortly after the incident. “This year alone, we have witnessed no fewer than five significant incidents, tragically resulting in the loss of 18 lives. Such incidents are deeply concerning, and it is clear that we must take immediate action to improve the safety of our fishing fleet,” Creecy said.
“As a result, I have instructed SAMSA to conduct safety audit inspections on all fishing vessels operating in South African waters that are in our register and present a report as soon as possible. Furthermore, SAMSA has also been instructed to develop a fishing vessel safety improvement plan aimed at preventing future incidents and ensuring that vessels operating in our waters meet the highest safety standards. The safety of maritime workers is a matter of national priority,” she said.
SAMSA confirmed that it will be investigating the cause of the fire.