Chile in need of new ports law

Rafael Durán, the organisation’s vice president, suggested that this would help develop and make maritime law more uniform in the Ibero-American sector. It would also help to co-ordinate the work with other regional and international organisations, many of which report to the United Nations.

Mr Durán noted that much of Chile’s existing port legislation relates to 1981, when the state port system was restructured, resulting in the ending of the monopoly of port operation enjoyed by the Port Company of Chile in state ports.

Further legislation, introduced in 1997, has helped to develop the main state-owned ports, resulting in the creation of ten autonomous state enterprises. At the same time, offering concessions brought in private operators and allowed increased transparency in the sector.

Nevertheless, Chile lacks a general ports law, which ports believe is now essential going forward.