Govt urged to set up maritime commission

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian National Shippers’ Council (MNSC) has urged the government to set up a Malaysian Maritime Commission (Marcom) for the maritime transport sector.
While it welcomes the government’s move to set up the Malaysian Shipping and Maritime Council and the Malaysian Aviation Council, MNSC said that any council which has no enforcement capacity may not be able to support the demands of the maritime sector.
“Therefore, we call upon the government to set up Marcom, an independent enforcement agency to regulate service providers, charges and unfair practices in maritime transport sector,” it said in a statement today, adding that the council would complement efforts of the Malaysian Shipping and Maritime Council.
MNSC said it had previously highlighted at numerous forums, the increases in various ancillary port charges imposed unilaterally by service providers which are not regulated by the government.
It said that the increases, which include depot gate charges, collection of deposits by shipping lines and non vessel operating common carriers, terminal handling charges and haulage tariffs, have eroded the competitiveness of Malaysian exports.
It noted the lack of a commission to regulate service providers, rates and charges for the marine transportation, unlike the aviation industry which is regulated by the Malaysian Aviation Commission.