Boat Launching

IN TERMS OF SECTION 2(2) OF THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC LAUNCH SITE IN THE COASTAL ZONE

OPERATIONAL PLAN FOR THE MANAGEMENT / OPERATION OF PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH SITES LISTED

(REGULATIONS NOTICE NO. R.497. 26 JUNE 2014)

The new fishing harbour and slipway

History and background to the Yzerfontein small Harbour / Slipways

BACKGROUND

Yzerfontein is a small harbour town with about 2170 inhabitants on the west coast of South Africa about 88 km north of Cape Town on the R27 and 63 km west of Malmesbury. The original Yzerfontein town was established in 1935 when a portion of the farm Yzerfontein was subdivided into approximately 330 erven. Between 1970 and 1990 a further 1523 erven were proclaimed. Yzerfontein fast developed into the sought-after coastal town that it is today.

The town has limited harbour facilities which are mainly used for fishing and water recreation. Over the years crayfish have made their homes in the cracks between the blocks and people spend hours fishing for them. Of course it is time well spent as the crayfish that come out from under the jetty are normally quite large.

On the inside of the jetty another breakwater has been built at right angles to the old one and it faces east and forms a small basin which allows the fishing boats to launch in any weather.

Yzerfontein in its day was a well-known snoek fishing destination and around 65 % of all national snoek catches were landed here. Possibly due to climate change snoek catches has declined dramatically but specie namely Yellow tail are being caught in larger numbers. The harbour is guarded on the south by a ridge which has a steep face on the harbour side and forms a large hill which is about a kilometre wide and reaches down to the sea on the south side.

Legislative Background

The Management of Public Launch Sites in the Coastal Zone regulations, hereafter referred to as the 'regulations', were promulgated in terms of section 83(1)(d)(i) & (o) of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008), as amended
The regulations were published in Government Gazette No. 37761, appearing as Government Notice No. R.497, on 27 June 2014; and it provides the legal framework for the management of public launch sites (PLS) in coastal public property in the following manner:
- It describes who the role-players are,
- It assigns obligations and duties to the role-players to manage the PLS;
- It provides for management powers to be exercised when required;
- It stipulates offences and specifies penalties for any transgression;

(v) It clarifies any conflict of other legislation, regulations, by-laws in relation to the PLS regulations.

PLS Regulation 3(3) specifically obligates the Management Body, i.e. the Municipality (in this case Local Municipality), to manage a PLS in terms of an Operational Plan; which is considered by the MEC on matters outlined in regulation 2(2), he may wish to determine, impose or regulate on.
The Operational Plan can therefore make certain determinations, impose prohibitions or conditions and regulate on any matter pertaining to the management and use of the PLS.
This document will serve as the Operational Plan; which will be managed by the Swartland Municipality (Herein after referred to as the municipality); and which was jointly developed by the MEC and the

Site Location

Geographical Information
Location Description				Yzerfontein Harbour/slipway
Province		Western Cape			District Municipality		West Coast District
Local Municipality		Swartland Municipality			Town		Yzerfontein
GPS Co-ordinates of two slipways ( more detail attached as annexure A)
	-33,346611		18,149555			-33,346289		18,149154

OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AND CONDITIONS OF USE

Access Management

Vehicle access to the slipway is restricted to tow vehicles directly associated with boat/vessel launching.
No alcohol or any other intoxicating substance shall be allowed on the premises.
Vehicle access to the launch area will only be allowed via the designated access point, as indicated either in this operational plan or as indicated on site as depicted in Annexure "C".
No access to the breakwater is allowed when the gates are locked. When the gates are open, the public may access the breakwater at their own risk. The gates will be opened or closed at the discretion of the management agent.

Access control

Users of the PLS are required to adhere to the access control measures implemented at the site, or any reasonable access control measures implemented by the appointed management agent on behalf of the mun
Street and other signage shall be erected to display the access control, vehicular flow and slipway etiquette guidelines applicable to the
Municipal management fees applicable to the site:

Operating Hours

September to April: 04:30 – 20:00
May to August: 06:30 – 18:00
Any variation is subject to the discretion of the management agent of the PLS.
No parking of vehicles not related to fishing are allowed before 08:00

	2019/2020Total R/cent Excluded VAT	2019/2020 R/cent 15% VAT	2019/2020 Total TARIFF R/cent VAT INCLUDED
HARBOUR AND FISH MARKET
Harbour (All Boats)	R 104.35	R 15.65	R 120.00
Motor Vehicles	R 21.74	R 3.26	R 25.00
Fish Market: Entrance Fee	R 21.74	R 3.26	R 25.00

Note: The management fees shall be reviewed on a yearly basis by the municipality based on the reasonable recommendations of its appointed agent and the input from the Yzerfontein and fishing communities.

Parking Management

All the parking areas/bays for vehicles and their trailers must be properly demarcated and vehicle flow clearly indicated. Refer to Annexure "C" for demarcated parking
Parked vehicles/trailers may not obstruct access to the slipway. Strict adherence to the traffic signs is mandatory at all times of the year.
Boats may not be left unattended on the slipway and no parking of vehicles on or adjacent to slipway is permitted.
Trailers may be brought onto the slipway by a motor vehicle, only for the purposes of launching or retrieving a vessel. After launching a vessel, the trailers and associated vehicles must be parked in the clearly demarcated area or as directed by the management agent.

Launching

No Boat will be allowed to launch unless the skipper is in possession of a valid Certificate of Competency, issued by the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA).
No person under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicating substance will be allowed to launch a boat/vessel from the premises.
All SAMSA and Municipal safety regulations/by-laws must be adhered to at all times.
Boats in the process of landing or being retrieved shall have priority over boats waiting to launch.
All skippers, crew and members of the public will be required to adhere to the slipway etiquette guidelines as published. Refer Annexure "B" for Slipway Etiquette guidelines.
No launching will be allowed if an emergency occurs which requires launching activity to temporarily cease.

Duty of Care/ Environmental Considerations

No washing of vessels, trailers or vehicles, scaling and cleaning/selling of fish, disposal of bait may take place on the launching
Buing or burying of any waste is not permitted on this
Fuel supplies must be stored in sealed containers on the
The users of this site must comply with the National Environmental Management Act, 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998) with specific reference to Section 28, the provisions of the National Environmental Management: Integrated Coastal Management Act, 2008 (Act No. 24 of 2008) as well as all other relevant
Everyone using the launching site must collect their litter, including cigarette butts, and dispose of these in the refuse bins
Bungs must be pulled on the slipway during retrieving of a vessel and immediately reinserted after the excess water has been drained.
Ablutions may only take place at the facilities provided at the launching site.
Vessels may not tie up to the jetty. The jetty may only be used for embarking or disembarking.
No fishing is allowed from the jetty.

Vessel and Public Safety

The municipality, its contractors and the appointed management agent are not responsible for any accidents that may occur at the slipway or in the adjacent swimming areas. Use of these facilities shall be entirely at the risk of the user.

Noise

Noise levels must adhere to the requirements of the noise nuisance by-laws/regulations of the municipality.

Special Events

Permission for special events must be obtained from the municipality.

Yzerfontein Harbour

Annexure A – Key GPS Coordinates

Source Google Maps using GPS Converter https://www.google.com/maps https://www.gps-coordinates.net/

Only registered and seaworthy vessels are allowed.

Annexure B – Launch Rules and Slipway Etiquette

Boat operators must be in possession of a valid skipper license.

Vessels are not allowed to create an obstruction to the launch area which hinders the entry and exit route to the launch area.

Everyone is required to adhere strictly to these guidelines and to report any disregard thereof to the compliance officers.

All skippers shall strive to minimize the time that their boats and trailers occupy the slipway in the interest of other boaters. In this regard, skippers are encouraged to prepare a pre-launch checklist, including pre-season equipment checks, and to ensure that all crew and driver are all available to avoid delay, prior to entering the queue to launch. No-one may enter the queue if boats are waiting to return from sea.

All trailers and boats shall be fitted with safety chains/ropes and these shall be used at all times that the boat is on the trailer. Practicing reversing a trailer should be done out of season.

The SAMSA regulations regarding required trailer markings, applicable safety equipment, limitations on vessels and skippers compliance certificates shall strictly be adhered to. Marine radio and cell phone reception is poor in some areas so skippers shall ensure that their intended destinations (and when altered) are known to their emergency contact person.

Boats returning from sea shall have priority access to the slipway over boats wanting to launch (except for those boats already on the slipway) and the latter shall not obstruct access to the slipway nor hinder retrieval.

No boats may be left unattended nor tied up to the jetty at any time.

Boats, once retrieved shall drive sufficiently up the road to provide others attempting to launch sufficient space to do so and for other vehicles to pass. They shall then move on timeously to enable the next vehicle and trailer sufficient space to stop.

Compliance officers are requested not to perform their inspections in areas that obstruct or unreasonably delay the launching or retrieval of other boats nor, for safety reasons, shall they board a retrieved boat without prior advice to the skipper/driver.

Annexure C – Plan of the Yzerfontein Slipway and surroundings