Maritime transport policy draft available for all to see

AS PROMISED, the
Department of Transport
has placed its updated
Draft White Paper on
South African Maritime
Transport Policy on
its website.
Industry stakeholders
are currently preparing
their comments. (FTW
September 5, 2008.)
“The White Paper is
one instalment in policy
formulation around the
maritime industry,” says
transport minister
Jeff Radebe.
“There is recognition
that numerous other
policies related to
maritime should be
further developed, and
the issues related to
these developments
should include
risks, shipbuilding,
hydrographical
responsibilities, port
control, immigration,
fishing, mortgage
ranking, coordination,
environmental
responsibilities, cabotage
etc. There may well be
a need for a broader
national forum or a
cluster that will have
to look at the maritime
issues holistically,”
he said.
The draft policy
document is intended
to integrate maritime
transportation into
the overall transport
strategies of the DOT.
“Indeed, it has been
a glaring omission
that the mode that
carries the bulk of
South Africa’s trade
(over 95%) and is
conducted through
seven commercial ports
has not been integrated
into the greater
transportation family,”
he added.