East London - Clearance
East London is a designated Port of Entry for foreign cruising yachts.
See South Africa Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of South Africa. Remember, before setting sail for South Africa you must register with OSASA. Full details in Formalities.
Arrival Procedures:
If East London is your Port of Entry for South Africa, the following arrival procedures apply.
- On arrival at the dock the captain must report to the Buffalo River Yacht Club Marina office.
- The BRYC Marina offices will notify the Port Health office of your arrival. Do not leave your boat until cleared by Port Health.
- With the Department of Transport’s guidance, the registration forms have been updated and a Health Declaration for each person aboard is no longer a requirement. What is required now is a request for a Pratique giving crew details, plus an additional form giving vessel details, both available when you register online. These are submitted to the relevant authorities by OSASA on your behalf
- Fly a Q flag on arrival until cleared by Port Health, Customs & Immigration.
Note: Port Health may not be available over weekends and the crew will then be confined on-board until after the weekend.
Departure Procedures:
Yachts departing South Africa for the Atlantic must clear out of Cape Town.
When you leave, pay your fees and the Yacht Club advises the Port Authority, giving you the green light. Request clearance to leave port on VHF Channel 12. You may have to wait awhile due to other shipping traffic.
Domestic clearance:
Once you have entered South Africa through an official Port of Entry, completed your clearing in procedure with Customs and Immigration, you do not need to complete health declarations for entry into any further port along the coast.
It is, however, important that you call ahead to Port Control in the next port, and also call the next marina or yacht club for berthing. This is especially valid during November and December as the berths fill very quickly during these months.
Outward clearance for cruising onwards from East London is simple and straightforward as this port (and Port Elizabeth) use an Electronic Passage Plan (EPP). The benefits are that there are no forms to fill out, no offices to visit, all is done from the comfort of your boat. It takes about five minutes to fill it out the first time and about two minutes the second/subsequent time, because it “remembers” you as you fill out the fields.
Electronic Passage Plan (EPP) – https://sailingpe.co.za/coastal-passage-plan/
Once submitted, the relevant Port Authorities and Marinas are notified and you will receive a copy of the Passage Plan to your email.
Last updated: November 2023
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Related to following destinations: East London, South Africa
Port Navigation
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We arrived in the middle of the night but port control gave us permission to proceed to the yacht club. We had submitted an online passage plan two days prior. At the yacht club, we picked up a free mooring after consulting with harbourmaster Peter (some hours before our arrival). The moorings are attached to each other, so be very careful not to sail between them. Pick up the line as you navigate the boat alongside, then untie the knot that holds the bow lines and stern lines together. (See the picture)
The club has warm showers, a bbq area, and washing machine. We were advised not to go the (closest) supermarket on the other side of the river, but rather take an uber to the ones in Greenfield (4km, PicknPay and SuperSpar). None of the grocery stores deliver to the Yacht Club (although Spar said it would, but you need a South African ID to use their app). To clear out, submit a passage plan and pay marina fees to Peter (250 per day on mooring, 300 on pontoon). Call port control before leaving the mooring, as you might have to wait a long time.
Propane, cooking gas refill available at Gas Express. The phone number is 0727676945 or 0744798012. Sometimes a marina person will take you up by car to get your gas can fill. They can do US bottles but takes about 1/2 hour as they have to find the correct fitting. They are not used to our safety valves.
Just came to the marina. Phone for Conrad is 0633097913. Marina has only one guest dock which is used for a boat with issues get. They hope to add more docks for two more boats. Great place. Had a great Christmas as Conrad organized a small lunch for the visiting boats.
East London provides excellent shelter from all wind directions.
At the time of our visit in December 2016, the Buffalo River Yacht Club was closed due to lack of liqueur licence; with a new application in the works, they are hoping to re-open shortly. We were still able to use their showers and washing machine.
With the yacht club closed, we frequented the ski boat club on the other side of the river (just past the bridge), where we received a very warm welcome. Wayne from the ski boat club helped us get a diesel.
We did a day trip with Imonti Tours (http://www.imontitours.co.za) to the Mdantsane Township. The tour was excellent, Velile was a knowledgeable guide (he is also the owner), we learned a lot about local history, culture and current socio-economic issues. The tour includes visits to worthwhile community projects in the area. Highly recommended!
Posted on behalf of SY Starblazer:
A really friendly stop between Richards Bay or Durban on the way to Cape Town.
The Buffalo River Yacht Club has a pontoon (R150) with a few places for visitors. Also plenty of space next to the club before the bridge for anchoring (R0). A fantastically friendly and helpful club whose members arranged two vehicles to take jerry cans and 6 skippers to a truck fuel station for diesel (cheaper than car garage. R11.3 Nov. 2015).
Good bar, OK club toilets and showers. Pontoon water and power.
The local museum is excellent.
Well worth a stop and a better leg south from Richards Bay than Durban which it is a bit short.
Very well protected up to the river from all directions.
Port Control on VHF12 for entry and departure.
Easy going formalities for registering SA ‘Flight Plan’.