Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has gazetted the new regulations on shipping agency services, requiring shipping agents to obtain a special licence to operate in commercial ports.
The regulations on shipping agency services were formulated under the Maritime Transport Act. As per the regulations, shipping agents are required to obtain a special licence from the Maldives Transport Authority to operate in commercial ports. In this regard, all shipping agents need to register at the transport authority within 30 days. After the deadline, only shipping agents which have acquired the licence from the transport authority will be allowed to operate in ports.
Under the previous regulations, any shipping agent registered under the Ministry of Economic Development can operate in ports without an additional licence. Stakeholders of the shipping industry have been expressing concerns over the non-regulation of shipping agents in the Maldives, as most countries require shipping agents to be licenced for operation.
Under the new regulations, shipping agents are tasked with arranging the departure and arrival of cargo ships in local ports. Shipping agents are required to follow the international code of practice as well as the maritime laws and regulations of the Maldives in conducting their operations. Agencies which violate the regulations can be fined up to USD 650, while multiple violations can lead to the licence cancellation.
The regulations on shipping agency services was formulated to raise the standard of service given to cargo ships entering and leaving Maldivian ports, and to ensure shipping agencies operate at a professional level.