South Africa drafts regulations to protect African Penguin from offshore ship transfers

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment in South Africa has published the second draft regulations for Environmental Management of Offshore Ship-to-Ship Transfers to protect marine biodiversity, especially the endangered African Penguin.

• The draft regulations introduce a risk-based system, limit Algoa Bay operations to three operators and six tankers, ban transfers in Anchorage Area 2 during penguin breeding season, and require environmental management plans approved within 90 days.
• Changes include reduced exclusion zones, replacement of sonobuoys with hydrophones, and oil spill response vessels on standby within 30 minutes.
  These regulations aim to balance environmental protection with maritime economic activity, inviting public comments to finalize the rules.