Port legislation changes needed

Speakers stressed the need for the region to both modernise and bring up to date existing laws to reflect changes to maritime transport over the last 20 years.

According to Jorge Durán of the Inter-American Ports Commission (CIP), changes need to reflect larger vessels and more cargo, as well as new technology, infrastructure and procedures.

The president of Uruguay’s National Ports Authority (ANP), Alberto Díaz, pointed out that most legislation in the region is at least 20 years old and was originally brought into force to allow more private sector investment at the beginning of the 1990s. He now wants to see this type of legislation introduced across the region, while allowing each country to adapt it to reflect individual circumstances.