ATC230221: Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill [B 5 – 2022] (National Assembly – sec 76), dated 21 February 2023

Transport

Report of the Portfolio Committee on Transport on the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill [B 5 – 2022] (National Assembly – sec 76), dated 21 February 2023

1. Background to the Bill

The Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill [B 5-2022] (the Bill) was referred to the Portfolio Committee on Transport (the Committee) on 31 January 2022.

The Bill seeks:
• to amend the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Act, 1986, so as to give effect
• to Annex IV of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships;
• to incorporate the 1997 Protocol in order to give effect to Annex VI of the Convention; and
• to provide for matters connected therewith.

The Committee was briefed on the proposed amendments by the Department of Transport on 6 September 2022. The Committee resolved to publish the Bill for comment from 15 September 2022 to 21 October 2022 and to conduct public hearings to solicit public opinion on the proposed amendments. The Bill was published for comment in national and regional newspapers, on the Parliament website, Twitter and Facebook. Submissions were received from the following stakeholders: The Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds (SANCCOB); The Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa (WESSA); Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the Environment; The Western Cape Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning; Ms C van Dyk and Dr Pia Rebelo (supported by Dr Alanna Rebelo). The Public Hearings were held on 8 November 2022. The Department responded to the written submissions on 15 November 2022. The Committee concluded its deliberations on the Bill on 7 February 2023. There were no amendments to the Bill.

2. Committee decision on the Bill

The Portfolio Committee on Transport, having considered the subject of the Marine Pollution (Prevention of Pollution from Ships) Amendment Bill [B 5 – 2022] (National Assembly – sec 76), referred to it and classified by the Joint Tagging Mechanism (JTM) as a section 76 Bill, reports the Bill without amendments.

 

 

Report to be considered.