The SA Maritime Authority (Samsa) has been ordered to urgently inspect the safety of all commercial fishing vessels that are operating in the country’s waters following another incident.

Transport Minister Babara Creecy issued the instruction after a fire broke out on the FV Armana off the coast of Gansbaai in the Western Cape.

The vessel is owned by the Viking Fishing Company. The minister says this year alone, no fewer than five significant incidents have taken place, tragically resulting in the loss of 18 lives. She says these incidents are deeply concerning, and it’s clear that immediate action must be taken to improve the safety of the fishing fleet.

Samsa has also been instructed to develop a fishing vessel safety improvement plan aimed at preventing future incidents and to ensure vessels meet the highest safety standards.

Samsa is investigating the FV Armana incident to establish the root cause and determine if any regulatory breaches occurred.

The 20-member crew were rescued by another fishing vessel.