Shark saga: Life jackets query

2008-04-15 09:07

Nurene Jassiem

Cape Town - White Shark Projects is facing possible prosecution after photos of Sunday's boating tragedy near Kleinbaai showed that passengers on the boat, Shark Team, had not been wearing life jackets.

Three foreign tourists - two Americans and a Norwegian - died when the Shark Team, with 19 people on board, was capsized by a freak wave on open water between Kleinbaai and Pearly Beach.

Communications manager of the South African Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa) Sipho Mabena said there are strict rules that controlled the maritime industry.

"We stipulate that everyone on a boat must wear a life jacket and even determine what kind of jacket must be worn in certain circumstances."

Sensitive investigation

Charmaine Beukes, owner of White Shark Projects, admitted to Die Burger that the passengers had been wearing wetsuits when the boat was hit by the wave.

"We did have life jackets and other safety equipment on the boat."

Mabena said Samsa would publicise the results of an internal investigation, which he had started after the accident, by next Tuesday.

"The nature of the investigation is very sensitive because of the deaths.

If White Shark Projects is found guilty of negligence, we shall take further steps," he said.

- Die Burger