by Jeff Radebe, MP Minister of Transport, Durban
29 November 2007
It gives me a great pleasure to participate in this naming ceremony of the
new Smit Amandla Marine's 'bunker barge,' which will play an important role in
supplying marine fuel to the maritime industry.
This ceremony represents a significant milestone for South Africa,
particularly for the growth and modernisation of the maritime sector. It is
also another important milestone that highlights the value South Africa places
on her maritime sector.
Since our new democracy, we have been working to reshape this sector to make
it more relevant to South Africa's strategic circumstances. We have set out to
build a modern, professional, well-equipped maritime to meet our contemporary
trading needs. A key component of our vision for the maritime of the future is
a ship register substantially enhanced by the new vessels such as the one being
named today. I strongly believe that the vessel being named today will make an
important contribution to the overall economic growth of our country.
I'm aware that the latest consolidated figures we have for the development
of world sea-borne trade of goods, shows uninterrupted growth since 1970.
Growth for 2003 averaged 3,7% compared to a mere one percent in 2002.
Although the global recorded trade reached 6,17 billion tonnes in 2003, this
represented a massive and mind-blowing 24 589 billion tonnes-miles, the actual
distances travelled carrying cargo and freight around the world. All in all,
these figures tell us that some 90% of the world's total trade is carried by
sea and is loaded and unloaded at thousands of ports around the world.
But pressure continues to bear down on the developing world generally, where
the overall share of trade for the developing world dropped marginally whilst
Asia's rocketed to over 37% in 2003. Africa's share of this international trade
is small, representing only 8,9% of world export trade in 2003.
This is besides the fact that 80% of South Africa's trade comes or goes by
sea. The South African Maritime sector generates billions of rand in earning
per year. However, to most people, the work your sector does is invisible. You
quietly and successfully go about your business at sea or in ports, out of most
people's sight.
The fact of the matter is that South Africa enjoys a long coastline of some
3 500 kilometre. We also have seven major ports providing tremendous potential
for coastal shipping.
Combined with the strategic geographical position of South Africa's
coastline, our port system has a multiplier effect on the economy of the
country and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
It is against this background that the efforts of the Smit Amandla Marine to
raise the profile of the importance of the maritime sector are extremely
valuable. It is with no doubt that the Ceremony today will remind the public
just how important shipping is to their daily lives.
I warmly welcome this initiative and your company deserves the continuing
support of all of us. But I have two messages for the maritime sector this
morning:
Firstly, your sector needs to plan for the long-term to increase its
competitiveness and profitability, secondly, you need to invest in building and
the maintained of vessels in order to build a very strong South Africa ship
register.
As South Africa, we have consciously embarked on the Accelerated and Shared
Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA) in order to create sustainable jobs
and alleviate poverty for all South Africans. But for the maritime sector this
implies the obligation to increase South Africa's shipping register
dramatically from the current 1 048 fishing vessels and the single Safety of
Life at Sea (Solas) Convention vessel.
This requires tackling a range of very technical issues such as mortgage
rankings, crewing and manning of vessels, registration and ownership exchange
controls and immigration, and of course the tonnage tax so that we can create
an attractive fiscal environment for shipping companies.
I am sure I need not mention the benefits that would accrue upon completion
of this project. Our strategy is the prioritisation of the building of capacity
in ship repair, maintenance, conversion and docking facilities as a quick win
strategy. We hope that this will also alleviate some of the problems faced by
the industry, but will potentially boost economic growth and investment.
South Africa shipping needs to increase its standards in order to expand its
business. Basically what we want is planned expansion with regard for safety
and the environment. With the ceremony today, you are sending a very strong
message for the revival of South Africa shipping. This should mean ship-owners
using the South African flag because it makes good business sense to be
associated with such a good product.
Raising world shipping standards should also be the most important feature
of the maritime industry in order to ensure that ships comply fully with
international regulations governing their safety and environmental performance.
We should make sure that our ships are among those least likely to be detained
in foreign ports. We have a need to ensure that we upheld the highest standards
of maritime safety.
Distinguished guests, it is also necessary for me this morning to highlight
some of the milestones we have achieved as government in transforming the
maritime industry. First and foremost, I am delighted to mention that the
development of the National Maritime Transport Policy is gaining momentum and
have in fact concluded the first round of the consultation process in this
regard.
The coming into force of the National Ports Act has also played an important
role in lowering the cost of doing business and contributing to the economic
growth as well as promoting the development of an effective and productive
South African Ports Industry.
As you are well aware, the Independent Ports Regulator has also been
established and its board is already finalising the process of appointing the
CEO. It is indeed an exciting moment that for the first time in our country, we
will have an independent body that regulates activities in the maritime
sector.
Our objective of Maritime Education and Skills development has also led us -
together with the Industry, to begin the process of establishing the African
Maritime University in order to increase the number of African seafarers and to
strengthen the role of women in the maritime sector. This is in line with the
objectives set by the First African Union Conference of Ministers responsible
for Maritime transport in February this year in Abuja (Nigeria). This
University is expected to be the centre of excellence in maritime training to
serve all the African countries.
As you are well aware, South Africa is also part of the International
Community and has to comply with various Maritime Conventions. Our approach to
this is to identify Conventions that are of strategic importance to us. One
such mandatory instrument is the International Ship and Port Facilities (ISPS)
Code of 2004. As a result of this, we have had to strengthen our security in
ports. Issues of Safety and Security have become so critical such that, as we
grow the industry, we must also make sure that it is safe to do business in
South Africa.
There has been some excellent work on the implementation of our
administrative compliance with the ISPS Code translated to workable ports and
shipping security plans for affected classes of vessels and ports. However the
industry needs to up its stake in ensuring compliance and self-regulation.
To conclude, the maritime sector is a comprehensive service industry and all
of it, afloat and ashore, was and will be of great importance to South Africa
and its daily life.
I commend the efforts of Smit Amandla Marine for working very hard to raise
the profile of South African Maritime. And your efforts are essential to the
task of refreshing the South African ship register. Ladies and gentlemen, it is
with great pleasure that I now name this ship, Smit LiPuma.
Viva Smit LiPuma Viva, Viva Smit Amandla Marine Viva.
I thank you.
Issued by: Department of Transport
29 November 2007
Source: SAPA
