State revises Inland Water Shipping Act

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 13:44:48 +0000

By MAILESI BANDA

THE Ministry of Transport and Communication has started revising the Inland Waters Shipping Act Cap 466 and the Provisional Merchant Shipping Act Cap 468 of the laws of Zambia.

Minister Brian Mushimba said Government had started revising the two acts to ensure that the water transport sector remained responsive to the global maritime trend.

Mr Mushimba said the ministry had started the process of creating the Zambia Maritime and Inland Waterways Authority which would promote and regulate water transportation and bring efficiency in the maritime sub sectors of the country. This is according to an end of year press release made available to the Daily Nation by Ministry of Transport and Communications head public relations, Maimbolwa Mulikelela.

“In 2017, the water transport sub-sector continued to record steady progress across the country following an increased demand for marine infrastructure support services and the government started revising Inland Waters Shipping Act Cap 466 and the Provisional Merchant Shipping Act Cap 468 of the laws of Zambia so

That the water transport sector remains responsive to the global maritime trends, “he said.

And the minister said the ministry has distributed five dredgers across the country with a view of ensuring that waterways remain navigable throughout the year.

He said the rehabilitation of seven traditional canals in the Barotse Plains of Western Province at the cost of US$36 million aimed at ensuring the canals remain navigable throughout the year had started. “In 2017 we also commenced with the modernisation of the Mpulungu Port and to that effect a feasibility Study to develop detailed engineering designs was underway and shall be concluded in the second quarter of 2018,”he said.

He further said the study was being financed by African Development Bank (AfDB) at the cost US$1.4788 million.