MARITIME LAW ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AFRICA

Report – 11 June 2025
Authored by: Anisa Govender, Vice-President

DURBAN CHAPTER EVENTS

Lunch – 9 May 2025

The Durban Chapter hosted a relaxed Friday lunch on 9 May 2025. Attendees included:
– Lloyd Sinothi Mtshali
– Slindokuhle Ngwenya
– Tanatswa Kimberley Chinyanga
– Anisa Govender
– Trishmika Ghazi
– Taliya Moodley
– Dave Dickinson
– Capt. Mike Melly
– Andrew Pike
– Thami Mhlongo
– Lungelo Thabethe
– Amy Mungle

Under 35 Drinks – 6 June 2025

Cox Yeats hosted an evening drinks event for members under the age of 35.
Guest Speaker: Phiwe Ngcobo, Legal, Risk & Compliance Executive, African Marine Solutions Group.

51st MLASA Conference – August 2025

The Durban chapter is currently arranging the 51st National Conference of the Maritime Law Association of South Africa (MLASA) which will be held at The Capital Zimbali Hotel and Resort from 15 to 17 August 2025.

The theme of the conference is: AI on the High Seas: Navigating Admiralty with Intelligence.

GAUTENG CHAPTER

Gauteng Chapter Re-Launch

The launch of the Maritime Law Association Gauteng Chapter (MLAGC) was hosted and sponsored by Norton Rose Fulbright and Cox Yeats. It brought together industry professionals for insightful discussions and networking.

Opening Address:
Peter Lamb (Norton Rose Fulbright) introduced the MLAGC and its steering committee:
– Peter Lamb (NRF)
– Nicholene Naidoo Mazibuko (NRF)
– Aideen Ross (Cox Yeats)
– Cynthia Nanthalall (Hollard)
– Adv. Ghandi Badela (Gauteng Bar)
– Alamein Jeffry Butt (Sapphire)
– Juliet Maullin (GIB)
– Vikesh Ramtahar (OMI)
– Mark Govender (AIISA)
– Sharmila Naidoo (EY)
– Dineo Peta (Peta Attorneys)

Presentations:
1. Managing Cargo Risk in Sub-Saharan Africa
By: Taryn Janse Van Rensburg and David Ellis (C. Steinweg)
Explored challenges and opportunities in cargo management, focusing on critical commodities and risks.

2. Regulating Entry of Foreign Fishing Vessels
By: Peter Edwards (Dawson Edwards & Associates)
Highlighted inadequacies in legislation and proposed updates to protect marine resources.

3. Marine Surveying in South Africa
By: Gavin Naidoo (Linsen Nambi Marine Surveying)
Detailed the scope of surveys, port-specific challenges, and mitigation strategies.

Acknowledgment:
The MLA extends sincere thanks to the speakers and all participants for their contributions to a successful and enriching event.

CAPE CHAPTER

Sunset Networking Aboard the Ocean Princess

The Maritime Law Association Cape Chapter hosted a relaxed and fun sunset networking event on Thursday, 24 April 2025, with attendance from MLA members, maritime colleagues, students, and friends who came together for a sunset spin aboard the Ocean Princess.

The Cape Chapter committee extends its sincere thanks to David Abromowitz of Princess Yachts for making his yacht available for the event and to everyone who attended for making it a successful and memorable networking event.

MLA NATIONAL: INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION

Delegates representing South Africa at the CMI Tokyo Conference 2025

South Africa was proudly represented at the 44th International Conference of the CMI (Comité Maritime International) held in Tokyo, Japan. The delegation included:

– Gavin Fitzmaurice
– Patrick Holloway
– Justice Angus Morkel Stewart (Federal Court of Australia; formerly South African Senior Counsel)
– Andrew P. M. Robinson
– Edmund Greiner

Notably, the Maritime Law Association of South Africa (“MLASA”) was represented by four of its past presidents: Gavin Fitzmaurice, Patrick Holloway, Edmund Greiner, and Andrew P. M. Robinson — a testament to the leadership and depth of expertise within the Association.

A highlight of the conference was the appointment of Patrick Holloway to the CMI Nominating Committee, a prestigious and well-deserved acknowledgment of his long-standing contribution to the work of the Comité Maritime International.

The MLASA also participated in the work of various CMI international working groups. In this regard we note in particular contributions from Adv. Lisa Mills and Gavin Fitzmaurice to the draft CMI Lex Maritima, Gavin Fitzmaurice, Andrew Robinson and team in response to the Mobile Offshore Renewable Units committee questionnaire, Andrew Robinson on the Rotterdam Rules committee, Patrick Holloway on the Implementations Committee; John Hare on the Constitution Committee and Gavin Fitzmaurice in his role as rapporteur.