Shipping lines and agents face BEE conundrum

Accredited verification agencies still to be appointed
ALAN PEAT
THERE IS a possible problem in black economic empowerment (BEE) lurking out there for shipping lines and agents – with demands now being recorded from multi-nationals for proof of BEE status before they’ll do business. Said one local agent for a line on the Far East trade: “Tenders are being received from the larger export houses which are requesting shipping lines and agents to confirm their progress on BEE, and give scorecard ratings. “But we are faced with a horrific problem. How do you get a rating if no accredited verification agencies are appointed yet?” And this problem is not just confined to the shipping industry, according to Deon Oberholzer of Gestalt Consult – a firm specialising in broad-based BEE (BBBEE) transformation and BEE partnerships and investments. Many companies, especially smaller companies, he said, are facing the dilemma of deciding when to do a BBBEE verification of their business. They are receiving letters from or on behalf of some of their key customers demanding that verification has to be done or they may lose their approved supplier status, or some other threat of lost or reduced business. Yet, he agrees, there are no accredited verification agencies today, and the reason is simple. “Government,” Oberholzer said, “has not yet finalised the codes or the accreditation requirements. “Any verification done now will be of no binding or legal standing. It will simply act as an indication of the status of the company in terms of an unofficial interpretation.” But that seems to be all that is needed in the current situation, according to executives of other shipping lines. Said Andrew Weiss, marketing team leader for Mitsui OSK Line (MOL): “We have had a couple of tenders where we were asked what our BEE status was. “But they’ve settled for our written assessment of what we’ve achieved so far, and where we intend going – and we haven’t had to give any specific scorecard.” Glen Delve, national commercial manager for Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), said his line takes it one step further if need be. “We have had it asked of us,” he told FTW. “But we are fully compliant and have a scorecard – and meet, if not exceed, all the BEE guideline requirements.” King & Sons are equally happy with their compliance level. Said Dan Dalton, liner division manager: “We have not had any direct enquiries, but we are seeing more tenders asking for BEE status, and they’re pretty detailed questionnaires. “But our quarterly, voluntary scorecard which we submit to government seems to suffice at the moment.” Flemming Dalgaard, MD of Maersk Line (which also now owns Safmarine and P&O Nedlloyd) is even more explicit. “We have had a number of requests from large companies as to whether we’re BEE accredited. “There are certain criteria which you must fulfil for accreditation. Our focus has always been on transfer of knowledge and education and training, and we have very specific strategies in place. “We have decided not to use accreditation companies, but have made an agreement with government on what we must achieve, and we are doing this rating on a bi-annual basis.”