Lignes Maritimes Congolaises SA (LMC), the national shipping line of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), recently appointed Africa Union Cargo (AUCN) to administer the collection of the duly gazetted and decreed Maritime Traffic Rights, in its name and on its behalf, from all shipping lines and maritime operatorsThe mandate from LMC covers all DRC-destined cargo on vessels from the territories of Asia, Oceana, Middle East, Europe, and the Americas discharged at ports in southern Africa.LMC is 100% government owned but operates as a private entity to support the DRC in the maritime, mining, cargo imports and exports, transport and warehousing sectors. Maritime Traffic Rights, regulated by Ministerial Decision No.409/CAB/MIN/TC/0052/TOW/2003 of 06 November 2003, are fees due to the DRC by carriers or maritime operators who make use of or participate in the exploitation of its maritime space. In accordance with the DRC government decree, LMC has implemented the “Attestation De Transport Maritime” – ATM Certification for all shipping lines and maritime carriers of cargo destined for the DRC.ATM Certificates must be issued to each vessel carrying DRC-bound cargo prior to arrival and discharge at all African ports, according to Clive Smith, CEO of Africa Union Holdings in Namibia.The mandate comes into effect on September 1. “All shipping lines are requested to contact AUCN for support and guidance to ensure adherence and conformity to the regulations and decree of the Government of the DRC,” says Smith.“We have over the past three months developed, with the support of the LMC technical division, an online portal to ease the f low of capturing cargo data, and issue the ATM Certificate on the basis of the vessel cargo manifest and bills of lading,” says Dornay Swartz, chief project administrator at AUCN. She further encouraged all shipping lines to contact the team to register and receive detailed information “A dedicated and skilled team is in place at our administrative head office in Walvis Bay, Namibia as well as our office in Johannesburg. Further support will be provided through our offices in Dubai and China, and representative offices in Dar es Salaam and Mombasa, to ensure a seamless operation and issuance of the ATM Certification,” says Smith "ATM Certificates must be issued to each vessel carrying DRC-bound cargo prior to arrival and discharge at all African ports. - Clive Smith
