In these regulations, "the Act" means the  Marine Traffic Act, 1981 (Act No. 2 of 1981) and any expression to which a meaning has been assigned in the Act shall bear such meaning and, unless the context otherwise indicates—

"authorized agency"

means a person, club, society or organisation approved by the Authority to perform such functions as are required to be performed by it in terms of these regulations;

"detention officer"

for the purposes of Chapter VII, means a person authorised by the Authority in terms of regulations 19, 20 and 22;

[Definition inserted by section 2(a) of the Marine Traffic Amendment Regulations, 2026, Notice No. 4132, GG55299, dated 4 September 2026]

"fishing vessel"

means a vessel used in connection with the harvesting of the living resources of the sea;

"local authority"

means a local authority as defined in section 1 of the Sea-shore Act, 1925 (Act No. 21 of 1935);

"launching site"

means any place, whether artificially constructed or not, approved by a local authority or other Government authority, from or at which a vessel or a vessel of a particular type, as specified, may be launched, beached, moored or berthed, excluding a harbour or fishing harbour;

"Merchant Shipping Act"

means the Merchant Shipping Act, 1951 (Act No. 57 of 1951);

"Notice"

for the purposes of Chapter VII, means a Notice of Detention issued in terms of regulation 18;

[Definition inserted by section 2(b) of the Marine Traffic Amendment Regulations, 2026, Notice No. 4132, GG55299, dated 4 September 2026]

"principal officer"

means the officer in charge of the office of the Marine Division of the Water Transport Directorate of the Department of Transport at a harbour;

"return of service"

for the purposes of Chapter VII, means a declaration form issued in terms of regulation 20;

[Definition inserted by section 2(c) of the Marine Traffic Amendment Regulations, 2026, Notice No. 4132, GG55299, dated 4 September 2026]

"small vessel"

means a small vessel as defined in section 2(1) of the Merchant Shipping Act;

"South African national"

when used to describe any vessel, submarine or other underwater vehicle, means a vessel, submarine or other underwater vehicle which—

[Definition substituted by section 2(d) of the Marine Traffic Amendment Regulations, 2026, Notice No. 4132, GG55299, dated 4 September 2026]

"utility vessel"

means a vessel used or employed for commercial purposes, but does not include a fishing vessel or a vessel mainly used or employed for carrying cargo or passengers.