FTW pick: Government’s maritime economic focus gets teeth

Government’s Operation Phakisa – designed to unlock the economic potential of South Africa’s oceans - is getting more bite, as major investments are being announced.

When it was officially launched in October last year, the initiative was only defined in general terms, with the four areas of focus being marine transport and manufacturing; offshore oil and gas exploration; aquaculture; and marine protection services and ocean governance.

But a more detailed picture was revealed to FTW by Trudie Nichols, a partner at maritime specialist lawyers, Bowman Gilfillan.

She told FTW that the public sector plans for unlocking the economic potential in marine transport and manufacturing included:
* Establishing a purpose-built oil and gas port infrastructure at Saldanha Bay and other ports;
* Maintaining and refurbishing existing port and ship repair facilities;
* Fast-tracking decisions on issuing of licences;
* Reforming the port tariff structure to incentivise export of value-added/processed goods;
* Designation of port facilities for boat, ship repair and rig repair with localisation;
* Establishing a supporting funding model for infrastructure development in ports; and
* Increasing capacity for storage and warehousing.
To read the full FTW article, click here.
http://www.ftwonline.co.za/FTWeditions/2015/2166-4September2015/index.h…