ASIA PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION
TRANSPORTATION WORKING GROUP

NINETEENTH MEETING ¡V BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

APRIL 2001

STEERING COMMITTEE ON SAFE AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

PROGRESS REPORT ON THE PROJECT:
¡¥ANALYSIS OF THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF THE PROVISION OF HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IN THE APEC REGION¡¦ (TPT 02/2001)

Submitted by Australia

March 2001

LEAD ECONOMY: AUSTRALIA

SAFE AND ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS

AGENDA ITEM : Progress Report on the Project: ¡¥Analysis of the economic benefits of the provision of hydrographic services in the APEC region¡¦ (TPT 02/2001)

Background

The project ¡¥Analysis of the Economic Benefits of the Provision of Hydrographic Services in the APEC Region¡¦, was endorsed by the 17^th APEC Transportation Working Group meeting in Singapore in March 2000 and by the APEC Ministerial meeting of 12 ¡V 13 November 2000 in Brunei. Total funding approved for the project is $US48,500, with all funds being from the APEC Operational Account. Australia, as the Project Overseer, is conducting the project under the guidance and oversight of the APEC Transportation Working Group (TPT-WG).

The purpose of this desktop study project, which will be conducted in two phases, is to:

• Provide an analysis of the economic benefits and value of hydrographic services to APEC member economies and,
• Provide Governments in the APEC region with guidance on appropriate levels of investment in hydrographic services to ensure the safety and improve the efficiency of shipping while meeting international obligations.

Current Status

The Request for Proposal (RFP), being below $50,000, was advertised in Australia only on 3¡@The Request for Proposal (RFP), being below $50,000, was advertised in Australia only on 3¡@March 2001 in the newspape¡§The Australian¡¨. The APEC Secretariat and the Heads of Delegation (HODs) were notified of the advertisement and the RPF has been published on the Experts Group on Maritime Safety site. The HODs were requested to notify possible tenderers in their economies. Late April the project overseer will select a consultant from the proposals received, with the aim for the project to start early May. The project is scheduled to be concluded by the end of April 2002.

Proposed Timetable

Early March 2001      Advertisement of the Request for Proposal

Mid April 2001          Submission of responses to the Request for Proposal and selection of consultant;

Early May 2001        Start of the project;

End October 2001     Report on Phase1;

End April 2002          Submission of final report, including report on Phase 2 and draft guidelines.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the above progress report be noted.