HISTORY
Ports Authority of Fiji
The Ports Authority of Fiji (PAF) was a statutory corporation established in 1975 under Section 4 of the Ports Authority of Fiji Act (Cap 181) the PAF Act. Amongst its statutory functions PAF was required under Section 10 of the Act :
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To provide and maintain adequate & efficient port services and facilities in ports or approaches to ports
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To register and control navigation within ports and the approaches to ports; and
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To co-ordinate all activities of or within ports
The Ports Authority of Fiji was corporatized and ceased to exist on 1st March 1998 where two entities emerged in the process i.e :
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Maritime Ports Authority of Fiji (MPAF)
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Ports Terminal Limited (PTL)
Maritime Ports Authority of Fiji (MPAF)
MPAF ensured the proper administration of the Maritime Act 1986, provide and maintain adequate and efficient port services, approaches to ports and to regulate navigation within ports. MPAF was also responsible for the upgrade and development of port infrastructure and facilities.
Ports Terminal Limited (PTL)
With room to achieve higher efficiency levels through professional management and attain the desired results, Ports Terminal Limited was registered on 30th October 1997. Subsequently, on 19th November 1997, the company became a 100% Government-owned commercial entity. The formation of PTL was a deregulatory process of commercializing government entities.
The main PTL functions were;
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Stevedoring and cargo handling in Suva and Lautoka ports
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Pilotage both in designated ports and on coastal routes
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All aspects of warehousing in Suva and Lautoka ports
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Local wharves at Suva and Lautoka
Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd
On 1st July 2005, further reforms resulted in the formation of Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL) as a Government commercial company which replaced Maritime Ports Authority Fiji (MPAF), excluding the regulatory role but with additional responsibilities of local wharves and terminal operations. FPCL operates under the Seaport Management Act 2005. The reform process saw the winding up of MPAF in 2006.
FPCL is now a commercial entity registered under the Companies Act, and performs the functions of :
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The administration of the 4 ports of entries in the country, Suva, Lautoka, Levuka, and Malau
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The administration of its subsidiary companies, Ports Terminal Ltd and Fiji Ships & Heavy Industries Ltd
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Management of all aspects of storage and warehousing in Suva and Lautoka ports
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Management of local wharves at Suva and Lautoka
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Management of the property portfolio
Ports Terminal Limited existed as a subsidiary of Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd and operated its stevedoring and cargo handling functions both in Suva and Lautoka ports.
Public Private Partnership (PPP)
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Fiji Ports Corporation Ltd (FPCL) and Sri Lankan based conglomerate Aitken Spence PLC, to manage the functions of Ports Terminal Limited at the Ports of Suva and Lautoka under a Public/Private Partnership (PPP).
Fiji’s alliance with Aitken Spence PLC was undoubtedly one of the most significant PPP agreements the Government was engaging as it reformed a range of sectors in Fiji, with the global record showing that where there are better efficiency and productivity on the wharves, imports become cheaper and exports become more competitive.
On 31st July 2013, Fiji’s first-ever Public-Private Partnership was officiated and Ports Terminal Limited commenced its operations under the new management.
Rebranding
Considering the overall Port efficiencies achieved after the PPP, the new management, with an intention of creating a global brand identity and to reposition the brand on a higher paradigm, and promoting PTL’s motherland “Fiji Islands”, the company was rebranded as Fiji Ports Terminal Limited on 15th February 2015.