CONTAINER & CARGO HANDLING

20 port authorities vow to remain operational

6 years ago

20 port authorities have signed a declaration to keep ports open to seaborne trade during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The port authorities, from Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America, are members of the Port Authorities Roundtable (PAR) and came together to declare their commitment to ensuring their ports remain open amidst the current pandemic. The declaration, initiated by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), calls for port authorities to collaborate and share best practices in ensuring that port operations can remain undisrupted.

Quah Ley Hoon, chief executive of the MPA, said: “As the world battles with the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more critical to keep our ports open and goods moving.

“Shipping is chartering into many unknowns and new challenges. Port authorities have to take enhanced precautions for their ports and on ships, as well as manage the stress faced by our seafarers and maritime personnel. We have come together to make a declaration of our commitment, exchange experiences and share best practices.

“This virtual declaration by members countries across different geographical regions is also a first for the PAR. We came out of the session gaining more valuable knowledge to ensure that necessities and essential medical supplies continue to be transported seamlessly across the world and into our respective countries.”

PAR has shared the declaration with the IMO and the IAPH to rally other port authorities to join this declaration.

The ports that have signed the declaration include: Abu Dhabi Ports; Antwerp Port Authority; Bureau of Port and Harbor, Tokyo Metropolitan Government; Busan Port Authority; Guangzhou Port Authority; Hamburg Port Authority; Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore; Montreal Port Authority; Ningbo Municipal Port Administration Bureau; Port Authority of Thailand (Bangkok Port); Port of Barcelona; Port and Harbor Bureau, City of Yokohama; Port and Harbor Bureau, Kobe City Government; Port Klang Authority; Port of Long Beach; Port of Los Angeles; Port of Rotterdam; Port of Seattle; Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission; and Port of Le Havre.