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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1974
MEASURES TO CONTROL CARGO HANDLING PROPOSED
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THE PORT CONTROL (CARGO WORKING AREAS) BILL 1974 WHICH ENABLES THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO INTRODUCE CONTROL MEASURES OVER CARGO WORKING ACTIVITES AT PUBLIC SEAWALLS IS GAZETTED TODAY FOR GENERAL INFORMATION.
THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, WHICH WILL BE TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SHORTLY, AIMS AT MAKING OPTIMUM UTILISATION OF PUBLIC SEAWALLS AND NURPOSE BUILT BASINS AVAILABLE FOR HANDLING OF CARGOES WITHIN THE PORT.
IT PROVIDES FOR PUBLIC SEAVALLS TO BE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE CATEGORIES, NAMELY, PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREAS, PUBLIC WATERFRONTS AND EXCLUDED WATERFRONTS- AND, AT THE SAME TIME, ENABLES THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO EXERCISE CONTROL OVER CARGO MOVEMENTS IN THESE AREAS.
UNDER THE BILL, A PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA IS A COMPLETELY ENCLOSED AREA WHERE MARINE DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL BE PRESENT TO CONTROL THE BERTHING OF VESSELS AND PARKING OF GOODS VEHICLES.
PARKING FEES, ON AN HOURLY BASIS, WOULD BE LEVIED UPON GOODS VEHICLES ENTERING AND USING THESE AREAS, AND CARGO VESSELS WOULD BE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PERMISSION PRIOR TO BERTHING.
A PUBLIC WATERFRONT IS ONE WHICH CAN NOT BE COMPLETELY ENCLOSED FOR HANDLING CARGOES. HOWEVER, MARINE DEPARTMENT STAFF WILL ALSO BE THERE TO REGULATE THE BERTHING OF VESSELS AND PARKING OF LORRIES.
AS IN THE CASE OF PUBLIC CARGO WORKING AREA, VESSELS ARE REQUIRED TO OBTAIN PERMISSION PRIOR TO BERTHING. BUT NO CHARGES VILL BE IMPOSED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT UPON GOODS VEHICLES USING THE PUBLIC WATERFRONT AREA.
AN EXCLUDED WATERFRONT IS AN AREA WHERE NO CARGO WORKING VILL BE PERMITTED ON A REGULAR BASIS. THEREFORE, CARGO WORKING WOULD BE PROHIBITED IN THESE AREAS EXCEPT IN VERY SPECIAL CASES AND IN THE INTEREST OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC, FOR INSTANCE, TRANSPORTING A BULKY PIECE OF MACHINERY TO A CERTAIN BUILDING WITHIN SUCH AN AREA ON A ONE-OFF BASIS.
THE BILL ALSO EMPOWERS THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE TO SEIZE AND REMOVE ANY CARGO OR CARGO CONTAINER LEFT OR, ABANDONED AT THESE WATERFRONT AREAS, AND TO DISPOSE OF IT IF THE CARGO IS NOT CLAIMED WITHIN A CERTAIN PERIOD.
OWNERS CLAIMING ANY SEIZED CARGOES WILL HAVE TO REPAY ALL EXPENSES INCURRED IN THEIR REMOVAL.
COMMENTING ON THE BILL, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT DESPITE RECENT DEVELOPMENT IN CONTAINERISATION THERE WOULD STILL BE A CONTINUOUS DEMAND FOR PUBLIC CARGO HANDLING FACILITIES AT PUBLIC SEAVALLS.
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