ARRIVAL FORMALITIES
The Port of Cape Town is operated by the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) and is one of three designated ports of entry for foreign cruising yachts.
Cape Town Port Control controls all the shipping and yacht movements in and out of the port.
Contact details:
VHF Channel 14
Port Control Contact Number: +27 21 449 2805 (24 hours)
GPS co-ordinates: 33°53’52”S 18°26’31”E
There are two yacht marinas in the port –
Royal Cape Yacht Club
Phone: +27 21 421 1354
Email: info@rcyc.co.za or marina@rcyc.co.za
GPS coordinates - entrance 33°55’05”S 18°26’35E
Hours: Weekdays 08h00 – 17h00;
weekends 10h00 to 14h00
Website: https://rcyc.co.za/
Marina Secretary – Diane Bright
Marina Operations Manager – Elliot Magadlela
V&A Marina
Phone: +27 21 408 7579 office
Hours: 08h00 – 17h00 weekdays
Email: yachtoffice@waterfront.co.za
GPS coordinates: 33°54’27”S 18°25’11”E
VHF Channel: 71 – call “Swing Bridge”
Website: https://www.waterfront.co.za/business/marine/yacht-office/
Marina Manager – Joshio Fisher
Phone: +27 21 408 7579
After hours +27 83 688 1490
Approach
All yachts approaching Table Bay must monitor VHF Channel 14.
If entering from a foreign port as the first port of call the Q flag must be flown.
Entering
On approaching the main breakwater yachts must call “Port Control” on VHF Ch 14 for permission to enter the port and to proceed to the Royal Cape Yacht Club Marina (via the Duncan Dock) or to the V&A Marina (via the Victoria and Alfred Basins).
To access the V&A Marina (via the Swing and Bascule bridges) additional permission to enter must be requested on VHF Channel 71 (Call “Swing Bridge”). The operating hours for this service are limited outside daylight hours.
Departure
All yachts leaving the port must first call “Port Control” and request permission to depart from their moorings at RCYC or the V&A Marina.
CLEARANCE PROCEDURES FOR ARRIVAL IN CAPE TOWN AS FIRST PORT OF CALL
INBOUND BEFORE ARRIVAL
FREE PRATIQUE
All incoming international yachts entering Cape Town as a first port of call or South African yachts returning from a foreign port must register with OSASA at www.osasa.org.za in order to be cleared by Port Health and obtain a Free Pratique before arrival in Cape Town.
The Pratique and the Maritime Health Declaration form for each crew member (available on the OSASA website) complete with the crew list, last ports of call list and Yellow Fever vaccination status list (if applicable) needs to be submitted by email through OSASA to the Department of Health at portctn2@gmail.com 72 hours prior to arrival in Cape Town.
If this is not possible the forms should be completed and sent from the last port of call.
ADDITIONAL ARRIVAL PROCEDURE DURING COVID-19
On arrival at the dock the captain must report to the RCYC office or the V&A Marina office.
The RCYC or V&A Marina offices will notify the Port Health office of your arrival.
Port Health will then send a representative to the yacht to screen the captain and crew. A current negative SARS CoV-2PCR test result must be produced as well as the completed Maritime Declaration of Health questionnaire.
If no current Covid-19 test results are available for some or all of the crew they may proceed ashore to the Covid-19 testing facility at the Cruise Terminal in Table Harbour. This facility is operated by the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) and they offer PCR and Antigen tests.
If these tests are negative, the captain and crew (with passports) can then proceed with the NHLS test result to the Immigration Department which is located opposite the Cruise Terminal.
If any of the tests are positive Port Health must be notified. The individual(s) concerned will have to isolate for ten days on-board or go to a shore-side isolation facility at their own cost (facilitated by Port Health).
These procedures will remain in force until advised otherwise.
PORT HEALTH
Port Health may not be available over weekends and the crew will then be confined on-board until after the weekend.
Contact Numbers for Port Health are 021 4211124 O/H or 072 7354594 A/H.
OUTBOUND
Before departure cruising yachts are required to visit the RCYC or V&A office to complete a VOYAGE (FLIGHT) PLAN as well as complete a PORTNET CLEARANCE FORM (supplied by the RCYC office).
The RCYC office will then issue three clearance certificates for Portnet, Immigration and Customs.
Once these clearance certificates have been issued proceed to the Portnet office followed by Immigration and Customs offices.
For further information on the Arrival and Departure procedures
See https://rcyc.co.za/rcyc-marina/signing-out-in-requirements/
IMMIGRATION OFFICE
Port of Entry Control Centre building (Opposite Table Bay Police Station)
660 Old Duncan Road
Table Bay Harbour
Tel +27 21 421 1007
Office Hours – 24 hours
CUSTOMS OFFICE
In the same building as the Immigration office
Office Hours – 07H00-17H00 daily.
PORTNET OFFICE
Transnet Tower
National Ports Authority House
South Arm Road
Table Bay Harbour
Office hours – 09H00 -15H00 weekdays only