Principal officer for the Southern Region at the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa), Captain Thobela Gqabu, has been elected vice chairman of the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) on Port State Control.
“Samsa considers this appointment as a huge step in ensuring that South Africa plays its part in matters of international compliance by shipping, thus ensuring the safety of lives and the environment at sea,” said Samsa chief operations officer, Sobantu Tilayi.
The IOMOU – made up of 19 member states who have borders on the Indian Ocean – is one of nine regional port state agreements which form part of the global network of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
A statement released yesterday (Tuesday) noted that the port state structure had been established and tasked with ensuring that ocean-going vessels complied with international standards while serving international shipping demands.
