Ship Registration Act (No. 58 of 1998).

This Act defines the nationality of South African ships and provides for the registration of South African ships including fishing vessels. It also provides for the establishment of the South African Ship Registration Office.
The South African Ship Registration Office may establish branch offices of the Registration Office. There shall be appointed a Registrar and Deputy Registrars of Ships. The Act prescribes which ships are entitled to be registered. A ship may not be registered until it has been marked in the prescribed manner with the marks directed by the Registrar by notice in writing served on the owner. "Fishing vessel" shall have, in this Act, the meaning as defined in section 1 of the Marine Living Resources Act, 1998.