DOC and night time fishing myth in Durban harbour

[MichaelK]

So i got my VHF licence and sat with the Harbour Captain yesterday doing my DOC (Durban operators certificate).
Once i'd passed and having a social discussion with the port captain. I mentioned that now i had my licence to go fish at night and not be harassed by the harbour police. He immediately said what are you talking about. The DOC is only to enter and exit the harbour mouth and has nothing to do with night fishing.


I then said many of the guys are being fined up to R600 for fishing at night without a DOC and are being chased off the water.


His words to me where, as long as you have had your boat inspected by your safety officer at your club and it meets all the safety requirements in terms of the catagory that you are licenced for and that you have the correct night lights for your boat. Your COF is a mini DOC and is enough to allow you to fish in the harbour at night time.


If any of you guys want to argue the fact, please contact the port captains office and speak to Mr Chris Tyrrell at 031 3618750   cell number 0736709660  email - chris.tyrrell@transnet.net


It was also mentioned that this issue was recently brought up at their ports committee meeting and the top brass in the SAP are now aware of the correct requirements.

[CLS]

Thanks MK, good news.

[dugong]

Its always been the case and says as much in the SAMSA document - its just a few really stupid bighead cops that CANNOT read, I showed the document to a Harbour SAP cop about two years ago and it took him about 10mins to see the light!!

[Mrzipo]

Thanks Michaelk straightening this out

[shu vawda]

I fish with a buddy of mine who has a category d licence. the cops had come to us one evening and had asked us to leave as he had no night rating!!!!


I on the other hand have a category R license and they said this was fine and i should skipper the boat. From my knowledge this does not make sense as he is higher qualified than me and yet he was not allowed to skipper at night.


You try explaining to them but it is a dont care attitude.Can be really annoying!

[CLS]

I fish with a buddy of mine who has a category d licence. the cops had come to us one evening and had asked us to leave as he had no night rating!!!!


I on the other hand have a category R license and they said this was fine and i should skipper the boat. From my knowledge this does not make sense as he is higher qualified than me and yet he was not allowed to skipper at night.


You try explaining to them but it is a dont care attitude.Can be really annoying!

I have a cat B day only and was told the same thing, doesn't make sense, the cop told me to go do the R then I would be fine. Was fined 500 bucks couse I didn't have my licence on me, forgot it in the car, my fault

[dugong]

This is a taken from the 2011 SAMSA document, section 11.3 - Standard wording on National Certification (this is the CAT C section)

11.3.4 Day Skipper Category C <9m or ≥9m
Type and category of vessel involved:
Category C vessel [<9m or >9m], and any non passenger vessel on inland waters in South Africa, day or night.

Level of competency and limitations:
Day Skipper of a power driven vessel limited to 15 nautical miles from shore; proceeding to sea from a commercial harbour, fishing harbour, or a protected launch site.‘

Anyone with a basic understanding of the english language should be able to understand this.......................it took me 10mins to explain "on inland waters in South Africa, day or night."   to a cop in the harbour!!

[Venom]

howsit. congrats on your DOC. i am goin for mine end june. am doing it through John Rodregez. is there anyone else that you can recomend? is the questions asked by the port captain hard?? any advice is greatly appreciated.

[dugong]

Michael, I was just speaking to a mate and he was told that the minimum boat size of 4.8m (15'6") has been scrapped, do you know anything about this??