The Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar will soon clear the air on the controversy surrounding a contract it entered with Dubai-based Philtex Corporation on registration of marine vessels.
Zanzibar’s Minister for Infrastructure and Communications, Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman
In 2007, the government of Zanzibar through Zanzibar Maritime Authority (ZMA) entered into a ten-year contract with Philtex for registration of ships through ‘open registry’ which allows registration of 100 per cent owned foreign vessels.
Industry players blame the agent for haphazard registration of ships, putting at stake the good image of Tanzania in the international arena.
Just recently, a ship registered by Philtex on behalf of ZMA MV Gold Star was intercepted off the coast of Sicily in the Mediterranean Sea with 30 tonnes of hashish, a composed form of cannabis. The cargo ship was registered in 2011 but its owners are understood to be in the Marshall Islands.
“A lot has been said regarding the deal with Philtex, but I can assure you that we will soon issue a statement regarding the contract,” Zanzibar’s Minister for Infrastructure and Communications, Mr Rashid Seif Suleiman, told this paper on Thursday.
The minister made the remarks in response to queries by ‘Daily News’ regarding the fate of the Dubai company as well as the interception of the Tanzanian registered ship MV Gold Star.
“What I can tell you is that we have deliberated on the matter and soon the government of Zanzibar will come out and state its position with the agent,” said Mr Suleiman.
However, this is not the first time that the government of Zanzibar is making pledges to act on Philtex. Last year, Mr Suleiman had told the Zanzibar House of Representatives that the government was in the process of terminating the contract with the agent.
“We are now in the process of ending the contract with Philtex. Soon the company will no longer be our registrar for international ships,” said Rashid when responding to furious backbenchers who demanded to know how the government has been benefiting from the company.
The minister made the pledge at the time Tanzania was under international spotlight, after it came to light that Philtex had registered 36 oil tankers owned by the government of Iran when it was facing sanctions by the United Nations (UN).
Zanzibar opted out of the Tanzania Merchant Shipping Act of 2003 and enacted Zanzibar Maritime Transport Act of 2006 to oversee the industry, but stakeholders have faulted the latter for giving room for registration of ‘questionable’ vessels.
“As of last year we had registered over 400 ships but only 170 are in active operations. Others have been sold and changed registration while others have broken down and no longer operating,” ZMA’s Director General, Abdi Maalim, told the ‘Daily News’ recently.
He defended the legislation covering flagging of vessels, saying the authority conducts due diligence before registering any ship.
Italian custom officials intercepted the Gold Star following a tip off that it was carrying a huge consignment of drugs and she had been followed for several days before the operation was launched.
By ALVAR MWAKYUSA, Tanzania Daily News
