The Tribune

By NEIL HARTNELL

Tribune Business Editor

nhartnell@tribunemedia.net

The Arawak Port Development Company (APD) is gearing up to launch a June initiative that will benefit safety standards at both the Nassau Container Port and on New Providence’s streets.

Emphasising that it was “a partnership” approach with both the shipping and Bahamian trucking industries, executives at BISX-listed APD told Tribune Business that it would bar port access to lorries and chassis that failed to meet basic safety requirements.

Richard McCombe, APD’s senior operations manager, told Tribune Business that the port operator was already filling out forms showing basic mechanical problems with each outgoing truck, such as failed brake lights and worn tyre treads. Copies of these inspections were being given to both driver and vehicle owner.

And, come June 1, trucks and accompanying container chassis that failed to meet APD’s safety requirements will be denied entry to the Nassau Container Ports when they come to pick up clients’ designated containers.

“In order for us to serve you, you need to meet these basic safety requirements,” Mr McCombe said in his message to the Bahamian trucking industry.

He added that the port’s two main commercial shipping users, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) and Tropical Shipping, which have their own container chassis dockside, were “extremely happy” APD was launching this initiative.

“The trucker-owned chassis are a bit more of a challenge, which is why we’re putting in an air compressor and simulator for them,” Mr McCombe told Tribune Business. “We’re trying to do this as a partnership.

“We also have schematics for them to ensure the wire feed matched the chassis. In the first world it’s a common standard, but in the Bahamas it’s never happened before. We’re trying to ensure the way hoses are hooked up works for the chassis.”

Michael Maura, APD’s chief executive, emphasised that the Nassau Container Port operator was not implementing this initiative in isolation.

“For the most part, the local trucking industry has been very supportive,” Mr Maura told Tribune Business. “Our position is that we’re not judge and jury,

“Our objective is to work towards equipment that operates on Nassau Container Port proper being safe, so those persons operating in the facility enjoy a mitigation of risk.”

By raising truck/chassis safety standards at the Nassau Container Port, Mr Maura said the island’s streets - and especially road safety - would also be beneficiaries.

“A spin-off benefit of what happens here will be on the streets of New Providence,” the APD chief executive told Tribune Business, although he was quick to emphasise that this was the preserve of the Road Traffic Department and Royal Bahamas Police Force (RBPF).