Private company lands anti-pollution contract in PE

AS PART of the newly-launched National Ports Authority (NPA) corporate environmental policy, a private sector operation has been contracted to set world-rated anti-pollution standards in Port Elizabeth, according to port authority spokesman, Thabo Ndlovu. "This is an endeavour to make Port Elizabeth a world-class port in terms of environmental management," he said. "Throughout the world, environmental safety and the protection of waterways and coastlines has become a vital part of industrial planning." For more than a year extensive investigations and discussions have taken place with major players - such as the petroleum industry and the SA Maritime Safety Authority (Samsa)- to establish the potential Hazchem/ oil spill requirements of the port. This has included the revision of existing contingency plans, future growth expectations and the changing mix of port usage. It has resulted in a Hazchem/oil spill response plan - designed to enable effective management of spill response efforts. NPA has contracted local company, Cape Chemical Industries (CCI), to supply a 24-hour, 365-day response in the event of an oil spill or other Hazchem emergency.