Posted:
April 19, 2011
Masters of vessels calling at South African ports carrying firearms without the proper national permits have been arrested, according to reports carried by international publications Business Day and Lloyd's List.
The Society of Master Mariners South Africa reported four mariners have been arrested in the last six weeks under violations of South Africa's Fire Arms Control Act, which requires a vessel to apply for a weapons permit 21 days before arriving in port. Three of the detained captains were released without charges; a fourth received a fine that was suspended.
According to Lloyd's List, charges were immediately withdrawn in two cases because the vessels held the required permits for the weapons they carried. In the third case, the captain was warned but allowed to return to his vessel, and the firearms involved were also returned to the vessel.
However, the master of the Bow Baha stood trial as a representative of the ship owner, plead guilty to avoid any delay to the vessel's voyage, and was issued a fine, which was suspended, Lloyd's List reported.
The International Maritime Bureau recently released a report showing piracy reached an all-time high in the first quarter of 2011.
According to the Business Day report, Capt. Rob Whitehead, vice president of the South African Society of Master Mariners, called the police action "overenthusiastic" and expressed concern over the arrests.
"This is completely impractical in many instances, as vessels are often diverted to South African ports to load cargo at short notice," he said. "In the resulting dilemma, vessels arriving within the 21-day application period are deemed in contravention of the act and the ship's master is arrested."
South Africa enforcing arms ban for vessels; captains arrested
Masters of vessels calling at South African ports carrying firearms without the proper national permits have been arrested, according to reports carried by international publications Business Day and Lloyd's List.
The Society of Master Mariners South Africa reported four mariners have been arrested in the last six weeks under violations of South Africa's Fire Arms Control Act, which requires a vessel to apply for a weapons permit 21 days before arriving in port. Three of the detained captains were released without charges; a fourth received a fine that was suspended.
According to Lloyd's List, charges were immediately withdrawn in two cases because the vessels held the required permits for the weapons they carried. In the third case, the captain was warned but allowed to return to his vessel, and the firearms involved were also returned to the vessel.
However, the master of the Bow Baha stood trial as a representative of the ship owner, plead guilty to avoid any delay to the vessel's voyage, and was issued a fine, which was suspended, Lloyd's List reported.
The International Maritime Bureau recently released a report showing piracy reached an all-time high in the first quarter of 2011.
According to the Business Day report, Capt. Rob Whitehead, vice president of the South African Society of Master Mariners, called the police action "overenthusiastic" and expressed concern over the arrests.
"This is completely impractical in many instances, as vessels are often diverted to South African ports to load cargo at short notice," he said. "In the resulting dilemma, vessels arriving within the 21-day application period are deemed in contravention of the act and the ship's master is arrested."