Regulatory issues in international maritime transport

mmpPDFResearch PaperOcean shippingMaritime industryRegulationsOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentNTL-MARINE/WATERWAYS TRANSPORTATION-Marine Laws and RegulationsUS Transportation CollectionThis report focuses on regulations governing international liner and bulk shipping. The report discusses the web of regulatory measures that surround these two segments of the shipping industry, and which have a considerable impact on its performance. As well as reviewing administrative regulations to judge whether they meet their intended objectives efficiently and effectively, the report examines all those aspects of economic regulations that restrict entry, exit, pricing and normal commercial practices, including different forms of business organisation. However, those regulatory elements that cover competition policy as applied to liner shipping will be dealt with in a separate study to be undertaken by the OECD Secretariat Many measures that apply to maritime transport services are not part of a regulatory framework but constitute commercial practices of market operators. Both formal regulations and commercial practices (a clear distinction between them being difficult to draw at times) have existed in the liner and bulk shipping sector for a long time, and have had a considerable impact on the development of these segments of the shipping industry. The report recognises that, in spite of a multitude of regulations and practices, the liner and bulk shipping sectors appear to be less regulated than many other service sectors; particularly other transport sectors. However, there is still scope for improvements in regulatory frameworks to improve economic efficiency to serve broad public interests, and desirable reform areas are pointed out in this report. Appendices, tables, graphs, 103 p. Also available in French at http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/0/62/2065452.pdf