Following a series of casualties off its coast, South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has signed the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill into law, strengthening South Africa’s ability to combat ship-related pollution.
Polluting ships now face stricter laws with fines of up to R10m ($541,000) for ships in contravention of air and sewage pollution laws.
The Red Sea shipping crisis has seen marine traffic leap around the South African coastline over the past year as vessels avoid the Houthis of Yemen and opt to sail around Africa on voyages between Asia and Europe.
Salvors spent much of last week cleaning up oil leaks from the wreck of the Ultra Galaxy general cargo vessel (pictured) that ran aground and broke apart off the western coast of South Africa in July last year.