The recently published UK Draft Marine Navigation Bill proposes to legislate to reinforce the Port Marine Safety Code, to improve the management of the General Lighthouse Fund and the powers of the General Lighthouse Authorities, and to enable the ratification of the International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks.
The Waterfront Conference Company has organised a one day event titled 'The Draft Marine Navigation Bill: Understand the Proposals, Contribute to the Consultation', which will be held at the Mayfair Conference Centre in London on Thursday 3 July.This seminar, held within the consultation period and supported by the Department for Transport, examines the Draft Bill, looks at what it intends to achieve, and what changes may be needed. The seminar offers the opportunity to understand the changes proposed, hear from leading players within the industry and put stakeholder views to the Department for Transport.
Key issues to be discussed include the enabling of harbour authorities to give general directions to shipping, the provision for competent harbour authorities to relinquish their powers and duties relating to pilotage when no longer required, strengthening and clarifying the provisions for pilotage exemption, enabling the Secretary of State to direct harbour authorities seen to be discharging their duties unsafely, designating National Occupational Standards for Harbour Masters and pilots, redefining the powers of General Lighthouse Authorities to operate beyond UK waters and to undertake commercial work, providing power to the Secretary of State to make alternative arrangements for pensions for staff of the General Lighthouse Authorities and to restructure the General Lighthouse Fund, and ratification of the International Convention on the Removal of Wrecks 2007.
The event is to be chaired by Lord Geddes and confirmed speakers include Richard Bennett, head of ports policy at the Department for Transport; Mark Watts, director of Waterfront Europe; David Whitehead, director of the British Ports Association; Geoffrey Stokes, ports liaison manager at the MCA, Rear Admiral Jeremy de Halpert, deputy master of Trinity House; David Snelson, chief harbour master for the Port of London Authority; and Ted Sangster, who is both chairman of the Ports and Shipping Partnership and CEO of Milford Haven Port Authority.
To view the programme visit http://www.thewaterfront.co.uk/conferences/conf_calendar_marine_bill.php or to book visit http://www.thewaterfront.co.uk/conferences/online_booking.php
