BOOK REVIEW
PORT HARBOUR AND TERMINAL REGULATIONSBy Anthony Jennings
ISBN: 1 85609 304 2
9781856093040
Witherby & Co. Ltd
.
www.witherbys.com
PROFESSIONALLY ENGAGED IN SHIPPING LAW, OR INTERNATIONAL TRADE? THEN READ THIS.
An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers, Richmond, Surrey
As author Anthony Jennings observes, even in the age of air travel, the vast bulk of international trade is done by sea. As a rather dramatic example, he reveals that some 95 per cent of all US global trade is seaborne, with a similar figure applicable to the UK and other major trading nations. As business has now gone global, lawyers engaged in international law as well as specifically shipping law, would do well to acquire this rather fascinating book.
While not specifically a legal textbook as such, it overflows with information and insights not merely into port, harbour and terminal regulations, but their legal and practical impact on ‘all parties who have to use terminals in the course of their business’ including ship owners and charterers. Also examined are the relationships between the terminal owners themselves and between them and their port authorities.
Not necessarily assuming specialist knowledge of shipping law on the part of the reader, the author – an acknowledged expert in this area – is careful to define his terms: –‘port’,’ harbour’ and ‘terminal’ (the differences are important) — as well as a wealth of other related terminology.
Thus Jennings creates a more precise understanding of the subject matter before launching into a rivetingly detailed analysis of terminal and other regulations – marine terminals, that is, as he shares his special insights in not inconsiderable detail about a wide variety of ports around the world. He certainly deals with a breathtaking range of issues, from environmental pollution to the ever-present security concerns that impact on global trade.
Security? Yes, when it comes to security, there are few internationally agreed rules or standards, says the author, which means that any extra or additional security costs must be factored in and measured against risk to determine commercial feasibility. This is particularly true in this bleaker post 9/11 world, in which ports, harbours and terminals, as well as international shipping offer obvious vulnerability to terrorist ambitions. Security issues therefore loom large worldwide, particularly in the United States.
Did you know, for example, that the Port of Savannah Georgia is secured ‘24/7 by the Georgia Ports Authority Port Police Department. It’s patrolled, with gates fully staffed by police (who have powers of arrest) it features fenced perimeters, motion detector sensors and security cameras. While this impressive level of preparedness has yet to be achieved internationally, ‘security has always been a prime function of ports and harbours worldwide,’ as the author points out.
On reading further into the book, one does notice that regulations with respect to security and other issues, including immigration and environmental pollution, vary from country to country and port to port. ‘These terminal regulations…have not been studied in depth before,’ remarks the author, who also provides useful suggestions for internet research. His book therefore makes a valuable contribution to the scholarship on marine law and should be read by every practitioner with clients involved in global trade.