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The Fiji Ports Corporation Limited is eagerly looking forward to providing assistance to the two recently declared international ports of entry.
FPCL chief executive officer, Chris Marshall, said its assistance would specifically be in the area of port security.
He said that in the first instant, the two ports at Wairiki in Bua and Oinafa on Rotuma Island will need to be upgraded to meet international standards.
“The two rural ports will have to comply with requirements under the International Shipping and Security Code (ISPS). They will need to be upgraded to comply with the recently enforced International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code,” he said.
The upgrading will need to be implemented prior to ports commencing any business.
“Since the two ports will be trading directly with international countries then it becomes mandatory for them to have these regulations in place,” Mr Marshall said.
The Interim Government had declared the two ports to be international ports of entry due largely to their strategic locations. The ports are expected to stimulate greater economic growth and in the process improve the living standards of the local communities.
The Wairiki Port will facilitate the direct exportation of pine chips from Wairiki to its overseas markets, mainly Japan, while the Oinafa Port will boost agricultural trading links with neighbouring island countries like Tuvalu and Kiribati.
Mr Marshall said other authorities like customs, immigration and quarantine will also need to provide assistance to the new ports in their respective areas of responsibility.
FPCL is also expected to generate some revenue from its services to these ports in the same way that it is currently generating revenue from services it is providing to existing ports around the country.
“There is a cost factor involved so we will charge a nominal fee just to recover our costs,” Mr Marshall said.
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(No.0719)
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