The proposal forms part of the new port package, which the European Commission published Today. Its purpose is to promote competition in and between ports. This must lead, among other things, to greater free market forces, more transparency, liberalisation and clarity regarding the financing of ports and the provision of service in ports.

There are a number of good aspects to the European Commission’s proposal. For instance, the role of the Port Authority as custodian of the quality and availability of services in the port; promoting the operation of market forces in general and making the government’s role in financing both the infrastructure and the services in the port transparent. According to the CEO, Hans Smits, the appointment of a new supervisor with a supervisory role would actually undermine the intentions of the EC and increase red tape. “In the Netherlands, such new supervision is totally superfluous. Following its autonomisation in 2004, the Port Authority signed a covenant with Deltalinqs, after it had been reviewed by the Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa). In it, highly efficient and effective procedures for setting port tariffs were agreed. Furthermore, anyone who has a complaint can report it to the NMa.” The president of Deltalinqs, Steven Lak, agrees: “As clients of the port, we have a well-functioning consultation system with the Port Authority for setting the port tariffs every year. If we are unable to agree on these tariffs, there is an independent arbitration scheme.” Both the Port of Rotterdam Authority and Deltalinqs believe that these instruments are more than adequate to safeguard the implementation of the new European port legislation. The introduction of extra supervisory measures will only result in a greater administrative burden and more bureaucracy.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority is currently in consultation with the Commission and assumes that the Commission’s proposal will be amended on this point, and that the ‘Rotterdam model’ will also be included in the new port package. Deltalinqs agrees with this.

The City of Decatur, Illinois (City) in the USA requests proposals from qualified firms for the rehabilitation of the Oakley Sediment Basin and the dredging of Lake Decatur Basins 1, 2, 3 & 4. The Oakley Sediment Basin’s earthen berms will be raised by an estimated in place quantity of 1,250,800 cubic yards of previously dredged material stored inside the basin. The approximate amount of new material to be dredged from Lake Decatur is 6,500 acre feet. These services are to be delivered on a unit price contracting basis. The selected firm shall be required to assume total responsibility for all of the services included in the Request for Proposals (RFP) and shall be considered the sole point of contact with regard to all contractual matters subject to technical and contractual oversight of the City.

The RFP and supporting documents are available only through a secure City internet site. Contact Concetta Guyse at (217) 424-2873 to obtain access to the site. All information provided on the site is intended exclusively for the use of proposing firms to assist with proposal development. No other use of the site information is granted nor allowed by the City of Decatur. Failure to abide by this notice may result in legal action by the City of Decatur against non-abiding parties.

Proposals will be received until 3:00 p.m., CDT, Thursday, June 20, 2013 in the City of Decatur Purchasing Office, #1 Gary K. Anderson Plaza, Decatur, Illinois 62523-1196.

Late submittals will not be accepted under any circumstance, and any submittal so received shall be returned to the proposing firm unopened. Proposing firms are fully responsible for allowing adequate time for the delivery of their submittals by whatever delivery method is employed. The City reserves the right to reject any and all proposals or any part thereof. The right is reserved to waive any formalities or informalities contained in any proposal, and to award the proposal to the most responsive and responsible proposing firm as deemed in the best interest of the City.

ESPO welcomes the fact that both initiatives value the important role that seaports play for the European economy and that the proposal complements the Commission’s earlier initiative to give ports a central position in the Trans-European Transport Networks.

“We appreciate that the Commission intends to recognise the central role of port authorities and we support the provisions of the regulation that aim to create greater financial transparency”, said ESPO Secretary General Patrick Verhoeven. “At the same time, we are concerned about the competencies that the regulation attributes to other authorities and the impact some of the proposed procedures may have on the commercial freedom of ports and their ability to invest.”

The regulation proposal excludes cargo handling and passenger services from market access rules. ESPO believes that an inclusive, non-legislative approach, covering all port services, would have been more balanced and proportional in this respect.

The action is related to a dispute between the country’s association of stevedore companies (AISC) and government-owned port management company, PT Pelindo.

It is hoped that the strike will not proceed or will not affect all ports. However, as reports indicate it has the support of all stevedoring companies the strike will likely go-ahead.