It is partly because the maritime sector cuts across nine government ministries that it has been drifting without direction and support from the state. Any policy aimed at this highly fragmented sector has to take into account the interests of the oil and gas sector, fishing, tourism, shipping, marine manufacturing and logistics providers, according to Business Day.
Newly appointed transport minister Ben Martins undertook to deliver a new, 20-year maritime development framework to the Cabinet before the end of this year. Martins aims to urgently address SA's unfavourable and inappropriate tax regime.
According to the Maritime Safety Authority of SA (Samsa), there are between 1700 and 1900 ships off SA's coast daily, but few of them call at the ports because of the high costs. In addition, SA has no commercial ships on its register because of tax and regulatory frameworks, Business Day says.
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