Explore: Richards Bay
General Info
Richards Bay is a large natural harbour on South Africa’s eastern coast, about 90nm NE of Durban. Although it is a large commercial port, it is a pleasant port of call for yachts being the holiday destination of the Natal coast. The game reserves within 1-2 hours drive north of Richards Bay are the best in the country and definitely worth a visit.
Position: 28° 48.63′ S, 32°06.08′ E (harbour entrance).
Clearance
See South Africa Formalities for full details on clearing into and out of South Africa.
On Arrival
Contact Richards Bay Port Control on VHF channel 12 (NOT 16) from no more than 6 miles away before entering the harbor breakwater. You will be instructed to either stand-off or enter – although you may not get an answer at all. In bad weather, you will most likely be permitted to enter the harbor immediately unless a large ship is also approaching.
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
If arriving from a foreign port all yachts must first proceed to the Small Craft Harbour and await clearance at the International Wall at Tuzi Gazi. Cruisers report that this is difficult to find, and impossible to tie up to 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, then it is possible to return to the turning basin and call Port Control for assistance.
The Port Authorities should have informed Immigration of your arrival and they will come to your boat. If there is a delay with Immigration arriving, calling Port Authorities on the radio and informing them may help hurry the procedure.
After Immigration clearance, you may proceed to Tuzi Gazi Marina or Zululand Yacht Club.
3. Customs
Customs no longer visit yachts and you will have to visit their office in Richards Bay as soon as possible after arrival. Most skippers after clearing Immigration, move to their chosen marina and then take a taxi to Customs the same day, or the following morning.
Yachts arriving in 2018 did not have any contact with Health Department officers upon check-in. Port Police visited only a few vessels. Normally, the entire check-in procedure is quick and simple.
Checking Out
Checking out takes longer and you need a car or taxi to visit the various offices which are spread out.
First, pay your marina berthing fees and obtain a multi-page “flight plan” form (cruising itinerary) from the Marina Manager, who will then add the first stamp required.
Next visit Immigration, followed by Customs and then Port Police (Tuzi Gazi Office Bldg room 28), each of whom will stamp the “flight plan” in the appropriate box.
Either return to the marina, who will fax your “flight plan” to Port Control, or visit the Port Office yourself with all the stamped forms (which may be quicker).
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.
Note: For both clearings in and out, Immigration appears to be where the most time delays occur. Call them in advance to make sure you do not find yourself in an empty office at the Boardwalk (0663068800).
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.
Latest update: November 2018
Docking
The approach is easy at any time, and the port channel is dredged to 12 metres.
The channel to Zululand Yacht Club (ZYC) has sufficient depth for cruising yachts. The small anchorage just south of ZYC has only a small area deep enough for anchoring and it shallows rapidly to the east.
There is docking at floating walk-on pontoons at ZYC and Tuzi Gazi (note the pontoons are very low) and against a high concrete wall at the Small Craft Harbour.
In Tuzi Gazi Marina during the weekends, music from the discos and restaurants can be very noisy. Space in all marinas can become very limited in the Autumn when a great number of boats arrive, and berths are assigned on a first-come-first-served basis, not by advance reservation.
There are a number of excellent marine trades at ZYC and in Richards Bay.
Latest update: November 2018
