COVID-19 coronavirus: New procedures are in place for arriving yachts. See Biosecurity for details.

All visiting yachts must abide by the entry regulations. These have been established (after a great deal of work on the part of OSASA) to enable easy access for foreign yachts into South Africa.

See South Africa Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of South Africa.

INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS

Vessels arriving from Foreign Ports must proceed to Tuzi Gazi (Waterfront) to clear Customs, Immigration and Health before proceeding to Zululand Yacht Club. Stick to the left hand side of the channel as there is a sand bar to the right. Channel has an average depth of 2.5 meters.

• Zululand Yacht Club – Fiona Linde – Email:  [email protected]  – Ph:  035 788 0256
• OSASA representative and OCC Port Officer: Natasha Wolmarans – Ph 083 280 1659; Email: [email protected] to organise PCR tests

Checking In 

1. Port Captain

Port Control (VHF Ch. 12) will ask the name and nationality of your vessel and the number of persons on board. Once they receive this information, you have been officially checked in with the Port Captain.

2. Immigration and Customs

An OSASA representative will meet you to assist with checking in.

International yachts must tie up on the concrete wall, in front of the Dros restaurant at the International Quay at Tuzi Gazi and await Customs and Immigration.

Cruisers report that this quay is difficult to find, and impossible to tie up to at low tide without line handlers above (and of course there are rarely line handlers available unless by chance other yachts have arrived before you). If no help is available to tie up, or the wall is completely occupied and it is not logistically possible to raft up against another boat, it is permissible to tie up on one of the moorings in the Marina, make sure to notify Port Control that is what you have done. Make sure you are flying the Yellow flag.

Immigration are located at Boardwalk Area, next to First National Bank, Penny Lane, 2nd floor.
Customs Office is at 2 Dollar Drive, Richards Bay.

After Immigration and Customs clearance, you may proceed to Tuzi Gazi Marina or Zululand Yacht Club.

3. Other Authorities

Health Department officers will also come and visit the vessel (see Biosecurity for more information). Port Police only tend to visit a few vessels. 

Normally, the entire check-in procedure is quick and simple.

DOMESTIC ARRIVALS

Permission to enter must be requested from Port Control on VHF Ch. 12. As no Customs or Immigration is required you may proceed to either Tuzi Gazi Marina or to Zululand Yacht Club and tie up. You will need to confirm with the office at both Marina’s that the mooring is available unless you have made arrangements before arrival.

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTURES

See https://www.zyc.co.za/index.php/about-us/rules-procedures

All foreign sailors and vessels must be cleared by Customs and Immigration before
leaving Richards Bay for anywhere down the coast. Bring vessel documents and passports.

Checking out takes longer and you need a car or taxi to visit the various offices which are spread out.

All recreational boats need to first go to the Zululand Yacht Club to get the “flight plan form” for departures. This has 5 stamp boxes that need to be stamped by the following authorities in the order below:
1. The Marina/Club – once payment for any outstanding monies has been paid.
2. Port Health
3. Immigration (they will give you a small form for Customs)
4. Customs
5. Water police division

Once all 5 boxes have been stamped, go back to the Zululand Yacht Club who will fax the flight plan with your departure date and time to Port Control. Port control then authorize the boat to leave if they are happy everything is completed.

Once approved, your final clearance is given or faxed back, and you have 36 hours to leave once you have checked out. If you do not check out in this time you have to check back in and then check out again.

Here is a Google pin showing the locations of the immigration and port heath buildings: https://goo.gl/maps/PpV8o9uCp9m1cAtq5

DOMESTIC DEPARTURES

Go to the office at the Zululand Yacht Club/Tuzi Gazi Marina and request a “Flight Plan”. This must be filled in by yourself, then taken to the office again, where, once you have settled your account, they will sign that you owe no monies and are clear to depart.

Then, go to the Water Police Offices at the Tuzi Gazi Marina. Here they will also stamp your Flight Plan and will require a copy. Ask them to make one, if they are unable to, there is a small shop downstairs “Frankies” that does photocopies.

Once you have all these stamps on your Flight Plan you must take it to Zululand Yacht Club office, they will stamp the Flight Plan to clear your yacht with Port Revenue and then will fax the Flight Plan to Port Control on your behalf.

Once your Flight Plan has been received by Port Control you have 36 hours to depart Port.

Visa Extensions

Applications for visitor visa extensions can be made at the Home Affairs office beside the Boardwalk Mall. Extensive paperwork is required and a fee is charged before your application will be accepted. Cruisers report that results of applications can vary widely, from not getting an extension until well after the previous visa has expired, to get an extension from date of application (thus negating any time left on the first visa). If a cruiser has visited South Africa recently, then they may receive upon check-in, a visa valid only until ninety days after the earlier arrival in the country.

Last updated:  October 2021