Port bill to be passed for comment soon

THE NATIONAL Ports Authority (NPA) Bill - which implements the National Commercial Ports Policy - is expected to be passed for comment this month or early March, according to Tony Norton, maritime lawyer with Durban-based Garlicke & Bousfield, and chairman of the National Port Users Forum. This followed a road-show presentation by the Department of Public Enterprises, at which members of the international advisory group - appointed to assist the Department of Public Enterprises overseeing the policy - were introduced to the users. “My own view,” said Norton, “was that they are really impressive participants in the information process. “They said quite specifically that they’re talking about the best practices around the world.” Norton had separately been told that they were currently providing the government with various options designed to refine the authorities’ thinking on the final policy. The Port Regulator Bill, which was another essential part of the legislative backing for the policy, is now incorporated in the NPA Bill, Norton told FTW.