Certification of boats operating on Lake Malawi is conducted by the Marine Department under the Ministry of Transport and Public Works, in accordance with the Inland Waters Shipping Act (1995).
Boat owners are required to submit a completed survey application together with the prescribed survey fees. Upon receipt, surveyors from the Marine Department inspect the vessel to assess compliance with safety standards. If the vessel meets all requirements, it is certified. Where deficiencies are identified, the owner must rectify them before a follow-up inspection and certification can take place.
Operating a boat on the lake without proper certification carries serious penalties. These include immediate detention of unseaworthy vessels, arrest by Marine Police of the boat owner and or master, and prosecution which may result in fines or imprisonment. It is important to note that there are no on-spot fines for operating unseaworthy vessels. Offenders face full legal action.
The bottom line is simple: a safe boat is a certified boat, and a certified boat is a legal boat. Boat owners are strongly encouraged to follow the law, prioritise safety, and have their vessels inspected without delay.