'Overdue' sea transport bill awaits Mbeki's signature Ushering in electronic document transfer, writ

THE NEW sea transport bill - specifically designed to legislatively usher in the era of electronic transfer of sea transport documents - is waiting for President Thabo Mbeki's signature. According to information released by the SA Maritime Safety Association (SAMSA) to Pre Prinsloo, trade and transport specialist at attorneys Shepstone & Wylie, the bill has been passed through its parliamentary stages and currently resides at the Department of Transport. "The next step," he told FTW, "is for the bill to be signed by the president, and then to be promulgated in the Government Gazette by proclamation." But Prinsloo has as yet been unable to obtain a date from the Department of Transport of when the Act will come into operation. ItÕs eagerly awaited, he added, not just for its electronic transfer enabling, but also to bring this section of SA law up to date. The new act, Prinsloo added, "will dramatically improve efficiencies, and streamline procedures". This because the SA courts have been battling in recent times, trying to apply now outdated laws to current situations. According to Prinsloo, one example relates to the very basic document - the bill of lading - where the SA judiciary have had to apply the English Bills of Lading Act of 1855 to present day cases. This, said Prinsloo, has been found unsatisfactory, both here and in the UK - but with the British version already repealed. "The new act is long overdue," he said.