Pretoria: Cabinet has this week approved the Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill which is expected to improve the operations and image of the maritime industry.

Cabinet approved that the Merchant Shipping Amendment Bill, 2014, be tabled in Parliament, it said in a statement on Friday.

The Bill aims to amend the Merchant Shipping Act, No. 57 of 1951 which predates the Constitution, 1996 making it imperative to align to the values and provisions of the Constitution and also to align to current International Conventions,” it said this week.

The Department of Transport published the Bill for public comment in September 2013.

The alignment of domestic legislation to the Conventions provides South Africa with a global instrument to ensure global protection to the rights of seafarers and decent working and living conditions.

“This will enable South Africa to intervene in cases where foreign ships entering our ports have contravened the rights of seafarers,” said Cabinet.

The implementation of the Bill is also expected to improve the operations and image of the maritime industry, which is imperative for international trade and the international economy, noted Cabinet.