News and publications NewsSouth Africa Publishes New Marine Oil Pollution ActPublished: 9 June 2026NewsLegislationPollutionSouth Africa has published the Marine Oil Pollution (Preparedness, Response and Cooperation) Act 8 of 2025, which ratifies the 1990 International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Cooperation into South African law. The changes form part of broader efforts to align South African maritime legislation with international environmental standards and to enhance the authorities’ ability to investigate and respond to pollution incidents in South African waters. The Act is intended to set a clearer framework for the handling of marine oil pollution incidents, with responsibilities allocated between the authorities and industry. It introduces a national risk assessment, a national oil spill contingency plan, an incident commander system and requirements for training, equipment readiness and regional cooperation. The Act also provides for criminal offences and significant penalties in cases of pollution, non-compliance or obstruction. For shipowners and operators, the practical point is that the Act will require greater preparedness once it comes into operation. The regulatory structure is broad and will affect not only response arrangements, but also documentation, contingency planning and coordination with the authorities. In particular, the Act provides that site-specific contingency plans must be in place before new port, oil or offshore facilities (and any new ship or fleet) are able to operate, once the national plan has been issued. In broad terms, Members should note the following: the Authority will be required to carry out national risk assessments within one year of commencement and thereafter every five years or when new developments arise, owners and operators will also be required to conduct their own risk assessments at their own cost, the national oil spill contingency plan will form the basis for site-specific plans a