THE FORMATION of a collective voice in the shipping industry a year ago has seen both external and internal dialogue improving, according to one of
the foundation members,
Rod Eaton of ASABOSA (Association of Ships Agents and Brokers of SA).
The grouping comprises members of the Chartered Institute of Shipbrokers, the Association of Shipping Lines (ASL) and ASABOSA.
While things never move as fast as they should, Eaton added, efforts seem to be paying dividends.
There are now recorded instances where the authorities have been asking for input from the combined body before making moves. This, said Eaton, especially with SARS (customs) before certain technical changes were put into effect.
While he suggests that the fog around dialogue has been blown away a bit, it would still seem that Portnet and Spoornet - while we recognise that they have political problems of their own at the moment, said Eaton - are still lost in the mists.
We are a bit frustrated with them, he added, although we are aware of their difficulties. We need to massage them a bit, although it is a bit difficult knowing who to contact at the moment.
However, meetings with related industry bodies in the private sector have been constructive, in Eaton's estimation.
Within the trade we've been in contact with groups like the SA Shippers Council, Exporters Club and SAAFF (SA Association of Freight Forwarders), he said. In this instance, dialogue has been improving.
The alliance has also
seen the Durban permanent secretariat for the Institute, ASL and ASABOSA housed in one set of offices. The logic of sharing space and ideas of common interest is fulfilled.
Other current concerns for the group fall under two main headings - productivity, and education/training.
The different bodies have put their own schemes in place, but overlap in practice, said Eaton. We are, for example, working together with SAAFF on
certain of the courses.
The group has also established an alliance with one of the recognised majors in distance-learning - part of its programme to streamline the flow of training in the industry.
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