NPA absorbs all the costs ALAN PEAT THE COSTS of the SA port network complying with the International Ships and Port Security (ISPS) code have all been absorbed by the National Ports Authority (NPA), according to Allister Donald, GM of Grindrod Ships Agency and chairman of Durban’s port liaison committee (DPLC). “It must have been a very costly exercise,” he said, “but it has not been passed on to port users in any way.” SA ports overall received high marks from the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) audit team that visited this country to inspect the systems brought into play to comply with the demands of ISPS. In Durban, the whole exercise has been a co-operative effort between the private sector and the port authorities, Donald added. “Although the NPA were the nominal heads of the exercise under the auspices of the department of transport,” he said, “SA Port Operations (Sapo) – with their own terminals to take care of – also had to put their shoulders to the wheel. “And not only the port authorities, but also the shipping lines themselves and their landside shipping line and agency operations, all had roles to play.” The work on ISPS compliance has gone on for well over a year now, but the last part of the port to be completed – the shipyard area – has now been signed off as ready.
