15^th TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP
Santiago de Chile, April 19 - 23,1999

TPT/WG/15/CT/SC/3.4

 Third Meeting of Steering Committee on
More Competitive Transportation Industry (including Infrastructure)

 Review of Progress on existing projects:
Port Expert Group
Final Report

 JAPAN

15th APEC TPT-WG
19-23 April, 1999
Santiago, Chile

Progress Report
for
Port Experts Group

BACKGROUND

1. The Group has 6 themes to work in order to improve the capacity and efficiency of the ports in APEC region. 6 themes and Theme Coordinators are as follows;

Theme 1: Port Data Base (Chile),

Theme 2: Regional Port Development Strategy (People’s Republic of China),

Theme 3: Port Administration, Management and Operation (Thailand),

Theme 4: Environmental Consideration (United States of America),

Theme 5: Technical Standards and Technology Development (Chinese Taipei), and

Theme 6: Natural Disasters and Damage Prevention Measures (Japan).

The progress that had been made at the Seoul meeting and onward was as follows;

Theme 1: We had made a proposal requesting 1999 APEC funding to upgrade and relocate the Port Data Base with a view to reduce financial burden of Chile and to ensure easier Internet accessibility for BAC meeting in July 1998. The request was ranked B and conditionally approved at the July BAC meeting. To satisfy the conditionality, we had made a fine-tuned proposal through joint cooperation of Canada, USA, Chile and Japan. The fine-tuned proposal was considered for the 1999 operational account and finally gained an approval by BMC in March 1999. In the mean time, Japan had tried to obtain the maintenance and equipment cost during 1999 after the relocation of the Port Data Base and succeeded.

We discussed in detail how to implement the proposal after its approval at BAC. We agreed that the Port Data Base be relocated to Japan as was suggested in the proposal and that Chile upgrade and relocate the Data Base by 1999 APEC funding.

As for the maintenance cost, since the year 2000 onward, we discussed and agreed to study the sharing of the component for operation cost among member economies.

Chile expressed its desire to make the APEC funding available from January 1999 in order to ensure the speedy upgrading of the Port Data Base.

Chile presented the components of upgrading the Port Data Base and we agreed that all the economies collect the users’ opinion including shipping lines and forwarders to meet their needs. Japan provided it.

Theme 2: China presented the discussion paper and suggested that there are still lots of bottlenecks of ports to be solved by jointed activities in the APEC region and we need a regional assessment of requirements in the context of regional shipping patterns and container vessel size.

Theme 3: Thailand presented its discussion paper and identified the present status for privatization and comparison among economies as well as future trend regarding privatization of ports. Japan provided its study on the advantages and disadvantages of privatization after the Seoul meeting.

Theme 4: U.S.A. discussed a preliminary draft of dredging needs survey based on the data and information provided by member economies in response to the questionnaire prepared by U.S.A. As for EGP, the Theme Coordinator consulted with existing documents and requested member economies to read through AAPA reports and provide their comments on whether to make the APEC version for EGP.

Theme 5: Theme Coordinator almost finished the data collection on the “ Automatic Equipment Identification (AEI)” and “ Gantry Crane Survey” . We discussed and agreed on a proposal made by the Theme Coordinator to conduct a study on “ The Guidelines for Terminal Layout & Design Procedures of Port Facilities” to use it as a reference for the future planning work of port structure and facilities to facilitate the port operations. The Theme Coordinator proposed that all the study cost will be raised by Chinese Taipei.

Theme 6: The Theme Coordinator presented a discussion paper and suggested to focus on the impact of earthquakes and tsunamis to international container terminals and its protective measures. We agreed to include the disasters caused by heavy wind like typhoons and violent waves.

U.S.A. stressed the exchange of know-how and experiences concerning disaster protection measures for earthquakes and suggested to hold a seminar on regional basis. Canada supported the proposal in view of it addresses the concerns of TPT-WG about emergency-preparedness.

2. The 6th Group meeting was held at 9:00-18:00 on 19 April 1999 and at 9:00-12:00 on 20 April 1999 in Santiago with the participation of port experts from 17 economies as follows; Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People’ s Republic of China, Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Philippines, Russian Federation, Republic of Singapore, Thailand, and United States of America. We welcomed the new participants, one from PNG and two from Russia (from Ministry of Transport, Russia and Port of Vostochny). With the new participation of PNG and Russia, the Group counted 19 participating economies in total.

SUMMARY OF DISCUSSIONS AT SANTIAGO

1. Port Data Base (Theme 1: Theme Coordinator: Chile)

Chile reported that the number of ports registered to the Port Data Base has increased to 137 ports from 18 economies, from the previous 127 ports of 14 economies and actual significant data input have increased to 69 ports; however, this increase comes from only 6 economies.

It was therefore discussed and agreed that further efforts will be made to increase the data input from member economies by way of requesting the related international organizations, such as IAPH, to ask their members to make data input in addition to the requests which have already been made by the Chair to APEC ports.

Chile will inform member economies of the names of already registered ports, and the economies will inform Chile of the necessary additions of the ports to be included in the Port Data Base by the end of May.

Discussion was further made on the ways to make the Port Data Base more useful and attractive for the port users, such as shipping lines, forwarders, and stevedoring companies, with a view to encourage their participation. And it was agreed that the Port Data Base will be improved in such a way as to reflect the interests of those private sectors as a next step. In this regard, all the economies are requested to consult with those private sectors and provide the necessary data to be incorporated in the Port Data Base by the end of May. Japan and Australia have already proposed the new items for discussion to be incorporated after consulting with the private sectors.

Malaysia suggested that hyper-links to the web sites of APEC ports and port related associations are to be added to the Port Data Base as a quick and reasonable way to widen its coverage. Canada supported the suggestion, and Philippines suggested to add the hyper-link to ASEAN Port Association. Chile explained that the Port Data Base already has the function of hyper-links, and will request APEC ports to send http addresses of their web sites.

It was informed by the Chair that the 1999 APEC funding proposal was finally approved at the March BMC meeting, although depending on the remaining resources after the examination of the EVSL projects slated for the end of May and that the budget from the Japanese Government was approved to equip and maintain the Port Data Base in 1999 after its relocation from Chile. All the member economies agreed to request the Plenary to realize the APEC funding as soon as possible, because Chile’s fund set for maintaining the Data Base will exhaust as early as June.

2. Regional Port Development Strategy (Theme 2: Theme Coordinator: People’s Republic of China)

People’s Republic of China presented the discussion paper revised based on the comments provided by Japan; Australia; U.S.A.; Brunei Darussalam; and Hong Kong, China. The paper focuses on container transport including Future Trend of the Container Vessels, Requirements for Port Development, Bottlenecks of Ports to Be Resolved, Port Policies, and Conclusion. It was discussed and agreed that we should elaborate the contents of joint actions to effectively meet the growth of container transport in the region by way of formulating planning guidelines based on the assessment of regional shipping patterns and container vessel size, and also taking into account of outcomes of other themes, such as Dredging Needs Survey and the Guidelines for Terminal Layouts & Design Procedure of Container Terminal.

In this regard, every member economy is requested to provide the coordinator with comments and ideas for the above issues by the end of May, based on which the Coordinator will present a discussion paper on the planning guidelines at the next meeting.

3. Port Administration, Management, and Operation (Theme 3: Theme Coordinator: Thailand)

It was noted that advantages and disadvantages of privatization of ports and its available options are well discussed in the discussion paper provided by the Theme Coordinator. Thailand also presented its actual experience in the same paper.

The Coordinator will present a draft final report at the next meeting.

4. Environmental Consideration (Theme 4: Theme Coordinator: United States of America)

U.S.A. presented the draft report of Dredging Needs Survey revised based on the comments from member economies. Suggestions to correct and add data will be informed by June 1, and Theme Coordinator will present the final report at the next meeting.

As for the APEC version for Environmental Guidelines of Practice, it was discussed and agreed that it is not necessary to produce APEC version of EGP considering the available data and information already provided by other institutions.

5. Technical Standards and Technology Development (Theme 5: Theme Coordinator: Chinese Taipei)

Chinese Taipei presented Briefing on the Guidelines for Terminal Layouts & Design Procedure of Container Terminal based on the study carried out by its own finance. Indonesia suggested that the relation between terminal layouts and operation methods must be clearly indicated in the report, and the suggestion was supported by member economies. The draft final report will be presented at the next meeting based on the comments to be provided by member economies by the end of May, and elaborating the relation between terminal layouts and operation methods.

6. Natural Disasters and Damage Prevention Measures (Theme 6: Theme Coordinator: Japan)

Japan presented the discussion paper including the summary of the questionnaire on basic data of disasters in member economies and suggestions to make APEC Guidelines on Earthquake Disaster Countermeasures in Ports and Harbors. Japan presented the proposed guideline, and requested all member economies to provide comments based on their experiences. The revision will be made based on the comments to be provided by member economies by the end of May.

It was discussed and agreed that the APEC Seminar on Disaster Protection Measures for Earthquakes will be held in 1999, possibly in September, to promote emergency-preparedness among APEC economies. Japan, U.S.A., and Indonesia indicated its intention to participate and other economies are requested to inform its willingness to participate to Japan by May 14.

7. U.S. representative recommended that the Port Experts Group review its purpose, goals and strategic priorities in order that the Group continues to focus on the most important issues affecting the efficiency and capacity of ports in the APEC region. Each economy is requested to provide the Chair by July 1, 1999 its reviews and recommendations.

8. Presentation by Russia

Russia presented its port policy and the current status of the Siberian Landbridge container transport route. All the participants welcomed the new information provided by Russia.

All the participating economies expressed their special appreciation to Chile for its excellent setting and secretarial service which contributed to the efficiency of discussion.

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