South Africa has ratified the 2012 Cape Town agreement, making it the seventh state to ratify the vishing vessel treaty.
The Cape Town Agreement is a basic set of safety measures for larger high seas fishing vessels that mirror SOLAS.
It covers the various fishing vessel safety requirements including stability, radio communications, life-saving appliances, protection of the crew, emergency procedures and drills.
Instrument of ratification was presented to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) on August 19 by Peace Kennedy, counselor at the South African High Commission in London.
The agreement will enter in to force one year after being ratified by 22 states which collectively will have more than 3,600 fishing vessels of at least 25m in length operating in the high seas.
