The Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations of 2007 states that all sailing vessels of 9m or more in length (and motor vessels of 15 horsepower or more) used for pleasure and recreation have to be listed or registered.

• Listing is a simpler and less expensive process, and can be done by SAS. Click here to learn about listing. When you list your boat you get an “SA” number if it is a sailing vessel or a “ZA” number if it is a power vessel. The SA or ZA number has to be displayed on your boat.
• Registration is a more complex and expensive process. If you wish to “go foreign” on your yacht you have in addition to register it through SAMSA. Click here to learn more about registration. SAS can help you with the registration process. When you register your boat you get an “ON” number.

The 2007 Regulations also define the safety requirements that have to be met by all small vessels. However the regulations specifically state that all sailing vessels of 9 meters or more in length (and all motor vessels of 15 horsepower or more) have to have an annual safety inspection to ensure that they comply.

• If your vessel is listed through SAS, the annual safety inspection has to be done through SAS by a SAS safety officer or a SAS safety surveyor. Once you have passed this safety inspection, you get a Certificate of Fitness (CoF) which is valid for 12 months from the date of inspection.
• If your vessel is registered, and you wish to go foreign you need a Local General Safety Certificate (LGSC). The LGSC is issued by SAMSA and is valid for 12 months. The annual safety inspection has to be done by a SAMSA approved SAS appointed safety surveyor. There will be one or more SAMSA approved SAS appointed safety surveyors in your region. If however your vessel is registered but you will not be going foreign in the next 12 months, a CoF is all you need.

Click here to find out more about getting your CoF or LGSC.

Please remember that the 2007 Regulations state that you have to have the following documents (or certified copies) on board when sailing:

1. The vessel’s Certificate of Listing or Registration
2. The vessel’s CoF or LGSC
3. The skipper’s Certificate of Competence (CoC)

If you have a VHF or SSB radio you also have to have your Ships Radio Station Licence and your Restricted Radiotelephone Operator’s Certificate (Marine)

If you wish to read the full Merchant Shipping (National Small Vessel Safety) Regulations of 2007 as amended, click here to download the regulations in PDF format.