Cape Town

Survival information

Practical information for crew arriving here. Verified where possible — see sources. Spot a mistake or missing detail? Tell us.

Related rights: shore leave · medical care · abandonment · unpaid wages.

Cape Town: seafarer FAQ

Is shore leave allowed at Cape Town?

Shore leave at Cape Town: South Africa generally permits shore leave under a port shore-pass arranged by the agent. Visa-required nationalities should confirm in advance. Reference: dha.gov.za.. Shore leave policy is set by the port authority, the flag administration, and the visa regime of South Africa. Confirm with the agent before stepping ashore.

What visa or shore-pass do I need for Cape Town?

Seafarers calling at Cape Town on a vessel are generally exempt from regular tourist visas under Convention 108 / 185 (Seafarers' Identity Documents) if their flag administration has ratified the convention and they hold an SID. The standard document is the seaman's book + ship's crew list. South Africa may also require a shore pass issued by the agent. Confirm before you board the vessel — visa rules vary by nationality and by recent immigration-policy changes.

Is there a seafarer welfare centre at Cape Town?

Yes — 2 seafarer welfare centres are listed for Cape Town in our directory. The centres are typically run by the Mission to Seafarers, Stella Maris (Apostleship of the Sea), or a regional ministry, and offer wifi, transport, shop, chaplaincy, and advocacy. Walk-in is normal; no appointment needed.

Is there a crisis or welfare helpline I can call from Cape Town?

Yes — 6 helplines are listed for South Africa in our directory, plus ISWAN's 24-hour multilingual SeafarerHelp (+44 20 7323 2737) and the ITF Helpline. Helplines handle crisis support, abandonment, wage theft, mental health, and bereavement.

What's the nearest hospital to Cape Town?

Most major ports have a port-area hospital with seafarer-accustomed admissions; the welfare centre and the ship's agent can both advise. For serious cases, the nearest international hospital is normally in the same city or the next major city. The nearest major airport is Cape Town International Airport (CPT), about 18 km away — useful for medevac planning.

Is Cape Town a recognised crew-change port?

Yes — Cape Town is listed in our directory of recognised crew-change hubs, consolidated from IMO MSC.1/Circ.1636, ICS/IFSMA briefings, and ITF priority-port reports. Recognised hubs typically have better port-state and immigration facilitation for crew-change operations, faster visa processing for seafarers, and more welfare-centre presence.

For the arriving crew

• Pilot ladder (SOLAS V/23) — rigging + inspection + Master's duty of care.
• Pre-arrival checklist — the standard bridge + engine + agent workflow before entering port.
• Ships' agent — role + documentation + interface with pilotage + tug + immigration.
• Currency at port — cash-carrying limits + declaration + safe practices.
• Hours of rest — STCW VIII/1 + MLC A2.3 rest rules during port operations.