Call for Harsher Maritime Pollution Penalties in South Africa

Lawmaker Lulu Johnson said incidents can often go unpunished

In the wake of the wrecking of the cargo ship Kiani Satu off the South African coast, Lulu Johnson, chairperson of the nation's Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, has issued a press release calling for harsher penalties against sea polluters.

"We have observed the several similar incidents around the shores of South Africa in which the vessels, either for transportation and fishing are grounded or capsized with some not only leaving the government authorities with a burden to rescue them and cleaning their damage, but posing serious health risk for fishery living resources," Johnson said.

"Unfortunately, most if not all of them, go unpunished.

"Much as we recognise the significance of either their fishing or transportation impact and also care about their safety, we equally call for the protection of the fishery resources through enforcing penalties for non-compliance and consequences of their activities."

Johnson said that only a swift response by authorities to the Kiani Satu accident prevented a more serious hazard to marine life, including local fisheries.

As of Wednesday, responders were trying to move oil from the wreck into plastic tanks and fly it off the ship after the first efforts to float the ship away from the shore failed, South African news site Times Live reports.

Also on Wednesday, lawmakers delayed action on making the nation a full member of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund, which would provide money for cleanup efforts in the event of a major spill, according to South African news channel News 24.

The Kiani Satu's owner, Esmeralda Schiffahrts, has promised to pay for the current salvage and cleanup operations, providing what local officials have called unlimited funding for the operation.