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South Africa: Major Updates to Coastal Passage Plan Reporting

The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA) has announced a significant upgrade to the Passage Plan for Coastal Sailing, making it easier and more efficient for sailors, clubs and marinas to log and track voyages along the South African coastline.

Published 4 days ago

Source: OSASA

Invaluable Tool for Safety and Communication

The updated Passage Plan system applies to both local yachts and international vessels that have cleared Immigration and Customs at a designated Port of Entry. It serves as an invaluable tool for safety, communication and record-keeping for coastal sailors.

“Coastal sailing in South Africa does not require a Health Pratique to be issued for each individual coastal port, nor for additional clearance through Customs and Immigration. The yacht simply needs to call Port Control for permission to enter and leave and communicate with the yacht club/marina regarding berth,” said John Franklin, OSASA Director.

“All yachts should visit the marina or club office before departing to ensure all dues have been paid. Once this has been done, complete and submit the independent online Passage Plan, and the office will ensure it is submitted to Port Control to inform them of your departure. This is not an OSASA function, but is recommended for safety and convenience when cruising the South African coast.

“It is highly recommend to call ahead to Port Control in your next port and also the next marina or yacht club for berthing. The Passage Plan gives you the option to contact the next marina/club and request a booking. This is especially valid over the November/December period, as berths fill very quickly in the more popular locations

“OSASA is encouraging all clubs and marinas to update their websites with links to the new system so that members and visitors can easily access the updated Passage Plan system. With these improvements, OSASA continues to enhance safety and convenience for South Africa’s coastal sailing community.”

Sailing in South Africa – Photo (c) Peter Sherlock

Why This Matters

The new system allows key club officials—such as club secretaries, safety officers, and sailing commodores—to receive passage details electronically. Data is securely stored and can be used to track the growth of the sport at the end of each sailing season.

What’s New?

Day Trip Sign-Out

A new Day Trip page now allows club members to sign out and in when heading to sea for short trips. This quick and easy process ensures compliance with SAMSA regulations, which require notifying a relevant club representative before departure.

Passage Plans for Longer Trips

Two types of passage plans are now available:

Short Passage Plan (under 60nm or 24 hours) – Ideal for shorter coastal hops, such as Royal Cape Yacht Club (RCYC) to Mykonos, False Bay Yacht Club (FBYC) to RCYC, or Durban to Richards Bay. It includes essential skipper contact details to assist the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) in case of an emergency and ensures relevant clubs and ports are notified.

Passage Plan (over 60nm) – Now includes an automated arrival notification email to the destination marina or yacht club, providing details of the vessel and estimated length of stay. While not a formal booking system, this feature greatly assists yacht clubs and marinas in preparing for incoming boats.

Additionally, the NSRI will have access to safety information for use in Search and Rescue (SAR) operations if needed.

How to Use the New Passage Plan

Visit the link below to access the upgraded system:

Passage Plan South Africa

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About OSASA

The Ocean Sailing Association of Southern Africa (OSASA) is a voluntary organisation engaged in providing a service to the ocean and offshore cruising community. As mandated by South Africa’s Department of Transport (DOT), OSASA collects Pre-Arrival Notification information from all incoming boats through the OSASA website and submits this to DoT three times a week for entry authorisation.

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