New legislation impacts asbestos transport

KEVIN MAYHEW FOLLOWING RECENT restructuring, which saw Shipping Consolidated Holdings become part of 100% empowerment group African Heritage Investments, the company has also refocused itself away from cross border dangerous goods – more specifically asbestos. According to managing director, Bill Benson, the move was in part due to changes in the legislation governing transportation of asbestos. Last year Minister of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, Marthinus van Schalkwyk, introduced legislation intended to gradually phase out the use of asbestos in most products. This adversely affected the company’s ability to handle asbestos at economically viable levels due to impositions made on the transportation of the material. Benson says the company has focused more on categories of cargo such as fast moving consumer goods, rice and polyurethane products amongst others. “Our restructuring with African Heritage has positioned us for the future and we have made adjustments to our focus areas according to the dictates of the market and cost efficiencies,” Benson explained.