Dr Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, has signed regulations to manage offshore ship-to-ship transfer operations.
George said the aim is to prevent pollution, protect coastal ecosystems, and secure the survival of the endangered African Penguin.
According to the new rules, STS operations are banned in marine protected areas, aquaculture zones, and wiin three nautical miles of the shore.
The Department said fines of breaking rules could go up to+R2 million. Prohibited zones include STS operations, which are banned within marine protected areas, aquaculture development zones, within 5 nautical miles of each of these zones and within three nautical miles of the high-water mark.
Operators must monitor for penguins and marine mammals, deploy hydrophone systems, and report sightings and incidents. Immediate response plans must be in place for any oiled or injured wildlife.