SHIPS berthing at the Solomon Islands Ports Authority (SIPA) domestic wharf will depend on their loading and unloading.
SIPA security supervisor Jayton Mae said this is a new time out measure that became effective as of Monday last week.
According to Mr Mae, it means that as soon as a ship’s loading or unloading is complete, that ship must leave the wharf.
Ships are no longer allowed to stay berthing at the domestic wharf, he said.
A senior officer from SIPA Harbour Master Office said this new measure is imposed because of the increased number of ships demanding berthing at the domestic wharf.
“We have more ships and some of these ships are big so we see it fit to impose this law to share or give space for others,” the officer who refused to be named said.
However, he explained that putting time out on ships berthing will always depend on a ship’s loading and unloading.
“Like ships for Temotu Province they might be loading for three days.
“So we put three days for them to load, but as soon as those three days are over that ship must leave the wharf,” the senior officer said.
He said SIPA has already discussed this new measure with ship owners and many are happy with this new change.
He added that reports stating that SIPA will only give ships four hours to berth are false.
“Such reports are misleading.
“The public must be clear that this time out depends on each ship’s loading and unloading.”
The officer said this new time out measure is part of SIPA’s ongoing effort to upgrade the standard on its domestic wharf.
By LESLEY SANGA
