31.01.2015 Views

EAP - The Pacific Infrastructure Challenge - World Bank (2006).pdf

EAP - The Pacific Infrastructure Challenge - World Bank (2006).pdf

EAP - The Pacific Infrastructure Challenge - World Bank (2006).pdf

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

Fiji 84<br />

Ports<br />

<strong>The</strong> Maritime and Ports Authority of Fiji (MPAF) is responsible for the administration of<br />

the country’s main ports, Suva, Lautoka and Levuka. MPAF is a commercial statutory<br />

authority. Its responsibilities include port management, development, port and maritime<br />

regulation, and licensing.<br />

A government-owned company Ports Terminal Limited (PTL) manages the stevedoring,<br />

cargo handling, pilotage and warehousing activities on behalf of the Government under a<br />

five year non-exclusive license agreement, for which it pays MPAF an annual rental fee. PTL<br />

was created to facilitate commercialization and privatization of port operations and to enable<br />

it to compete with private businesses. This dilutes the effectiveness of the outsourcing model<br />

as there are fewer incentives to operate efficiently and cost effectively when there is no<br />

competition for these services. This is one possible explanation for the highest port charges<br />

in Fiji. Plans were developed in the 1990s to sell PTL to private investors, but as a result of<br />

political upheavals, the sale did not take place.<br />

It was envisaged that MPAF would regulate the ports industry and PTL would focus on<br />

commercial operations, but in practice separation of function did not occur and the two<br />

entities had overlapping roles. <strong>The</strong> Fijian Government has recently approved a restructure of<br />

the Maritime Authority of Fiji and Ports Terminal Limited. A new company, Ports Terminal<br />

Corporation Limited (PTCL) will take on all commercial functions and the existing Fiji<br />

Islands Maritime Services Authority will be responsible for all regulatory functions 85 . Only<br />

half of the existing 172 staff will be required to run the new company. Extension work on<br />

the new Suva port will begin once the new company is established.<br />

Shipping<br />

<strong>The</strong> Government also has a 49% shareholding in Shipbuilding Fiji Limited which operates<br />

shipyards and slipways at Suva. Some private wharves exist at Savusavu and Malau.<br />

Fiji is served by a mixture of public and private shipping services. Private companies serve<br />

inter-island routes and the government fleet provides services to all government departments<br />

e.g. transporting machinery, materials, supplies, officials and vehicles. <strong>The</strong> Marine<br />

Department is responsible for regulation in accordance with the Marine Act (1986). <strong>The</strong><br />

Prices and Incomes Board within the Ministry of Finance sets inter-island freight rates.<br />

Passenger fares are not subject to price controls.<br />

<strong>The</strong> main island routes are open to competition and in 1997 a franchising scheme was<br />

introduced for outer islands shipping where competition is limited. Under this scheme, the<br />

Government defined a minimum service level for shipping to inadequately served areas and<br />

specified maximum freight rates in the franchise tender documents. Operators submitted<br />

tenders on the basis of the subsidy they required to operate these services. <strong>The</strong> service<br />

provider requiring the least subsidy got the contract.<br />

84 Republic of the Fiji Islands 1999 Economic Report, ADB <strong>Pacific</strong> Studies Series, 1999 and “Report and<br />

Recommendation of the President to the Board of Directors on a Proposed Loan to the Maritime and Ports<br />

Authority of Fiji for the Fiji Ports Development Project in the Republic of the Fiji Islands”, ADB, January<br />

2002<br />

85 “Major staff cut part of Ports’ restructure” Fiji Islands Business, July 2004<br />

134

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!