Hon Speaker, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and hon members, at the outset I would like to thank the chairperson and members of the Portfolio Committee on Transport for the diligent work done in processing the Bills under consideration.
I have the honour to present the Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Bill, 2013. The objects of this Bill are to enact the International Maritime Organization Protocol of 1992; to amend the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage of 18 December 1971 into law; and to provide for matters connected therewith.
The Bill forms part of a package of measures that are designed to give effect to the Republic of South Africa's obligations under the International Maritime Organization Protocol of 1992 and to give effect to the amendments of the International Convention on the Establishment of an International Fund for Compensation for Oil Pollution Damage of 18 December 1971.
The full package accompanying the Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Bill consists of the following Bills: the Merchant Shipping (Civil Liability Convention) Bill, 2013; the Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Contributions Bill, which is a money Bill contemplated in section 77 of the Constitution; and the Merchant Shipping (International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund) Administration Bill, which deals with the administrative matters of the money Bill, dealing with the collection and management of levies. It also deals with questions of liability and compensation for loss or damage caused by contamination resulting from the escape or discharge of persistent oil from oil tankers.
The Fund Convention establishes an international fund, which is called the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund or the IOPC Fund. The purpose of the Fund Convention is to compensate victims of pollution damage where they have been unable to obtain any compensation or compensation in full under the provisions of the Civil Liability Convention.
The International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund will receive its contributions from cargo owners. In the South African context contributions will be from refinery owners of oil companies, specifically from persons who receive more than 150 000 tons of oil annually, in South African ports or terminal installations of the contracting states that are the member states of the convention.
The Fund Convention is supplementary to the Civil Liability Convention, therefore a state cannot become a party to the Fund Convention without, at the same time, also becoming a party to the Civil Liability Convention.
Speaker and hon members, I hereby table the Bill to be passed by the NA. I thank you. [Applause.]