The International Shipsuppliers & Services Association (ISSA) has taken the issue of unfair port access practices levied against its members to the international stage by delivering a verbal intervention on the issue at the IMO.
The delegate that attended FAL43, ISSA Secretary Sean Moloney, commented that the members of the association keep on facing unwarranted delay, obstruction and unfair charges when they wish to enter ports to deliver stores to ships.
When the ISPS Code was devised and passed into IMO law, we worked hard to ensure that the role of the ship supplier was highlighted, recognized and incorporated into the legislation.
… Moloney stated.
He continued that ship supplies are driven by the shipowners and the ship managers. The procedure is based on full documentation; Ship suppliers don’t just arrive at a dock gate without orders and documentation.
Moreover, Moloney marked that in 2016 when the legislation was updated, ISSA members launched a detailed booklet highlighting the agreed operational parameters within which ship suppliers would operate to ensure both the spirit and letter of the law were observed during ship supply operations.
Yet, he talked about port authorities not co-operating with ship suppliers.
Daily our members – and we are sure non-members also suffer similar obstruction – encounter unwarranted delays, unworkable time slots for stores deliveries and absurdly high charges by some ports simply to allow a stores truck to enter and go about its lawful business.
… Moloney addressed.
He concluded asking for a reminder to the Member States that the ship supply sector has to be properly treated.
