Port user forum studies member submissions

RELEVANT INDUSTRY bodies are currently studying the draft rules and have meetings scheduled to discuss them. According to Mike Lloyd, secretary of the Association of Ships' Agents and Brokers of SA (Asabosa) and the Association of Shipping Lines (ASL), these two bodies along with the Container Liner Operators’ Forum (Clof), met last week – with submissions due to be finally made under the new, combined title of the three bodies, the SA Association of Ship Operators and Agents (Saasoa). Also, Saaff has been investigating the effects of the various sections of the draft rules which will apply to it. All the members have been informed and their reactions are awaited, according to Dave Watts, who heads up Saaff in Kwa-Zulu Natal (KZN). It also appears that the National Port Users' Forum (NPUF) – which acts as the lobbying group on behalf of all the relevant freight industry bodies – will be studying the submissions from all its member bodies, and putting any questions arising before the TNPA and government. Tony Norton, director of the Durban-based legal firm Garlicke & Bousfield and chairman of the NPUF, told FTW: “I am waiting for instructions to call a meeting of the forum to find out if there are any problems amongst these members and to make the relevant submissions before November 15.” Lloyd and Watts both told FTW that their bodies were supportive of the proposed NPUF meeting. The draft rules are available to readers on the following hyperlink: http:// www.transnetnationalports authority.net/Ports Act overview.html