Vice President Aliu Mahama said on Tuesday the government would provide the appropriate legal environment and organisational framework to develop the shipping industry and enhance its competitiveness in the global market.

Alhaji Mahama, who was speaking at a ceremony to mark the Second National Shippers' Day, said in pursuant of this cause, operators in the industry needed to be educated and equipped to be abreast with technological advancement in the sector.

The day, to be marked with workshops, an exhibition and the launch of two publications and a logo, is under the theme: ''Transport Technology and 'E' Challenges of the Shipping Industry in Ghana: The Present and the Future."

He said: "A look at the various sectors of the shipping industry today reveals unprecedented developments, which call for the adoption of new technologies, strategic alliances, and re-engineering of structures and procedures to keep up with the pace of development."

Vice President Mahama noted that larger and much faster vessels as well as more sophisticated cargo equipment had been developed, while information technology applications in the industry had streamlined the process of identification and location of consignment.

"The Ghanaian shipper, no doubt, needs to be adequately educated and equipped to operate in this competitive environment, if he is to survive."

Alhaji Mahama said the government was reviewing NRC Decree 254 of 1974 establishing the Shippers' Council as amended by PNDC Law 181 of 1987, to streamline its membership and to make its operations more relevant to modern trends in the industry.

He commended the Council for the leading role it played in the establishment of inland port at Boankra, near Kumasi and said the government would support the project to make it successful.

The inland port would enable shippers in the hinterland to consign their exports and receive their imports in Kumasi.

The Vice President said the port would reduce congestion at the Tema and Takoradi ports and create jobs.

He urged the Council to strive to become the major player in developing transit corridor between Ghana and its landlocked neighbours - Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - to facilitate sub-regional trade.

Alhaji Mahama launched the 'Shipping Review' and 'Maritime Trade Statistics' and urged researchers, students, government agencies and operators in the industry to patronise them to update their knowledge in the industry.

He also opened an exhibition of about 20 operators and out-doored the Council's new logo, which depicts Ghana in the globe, superimposed on a ship, indicating Ghanaian shippers' participation in the international transportation of goods.

Ghana, last year, recorded a throughput of 8.4 million tons of shipment.

This was, however, four per cent short of the 1999 tonnage.

Mr Felix Owusu-Agyapong, Minister of Transport and Communications, said the government had reviewed the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Authority Bills to create a conducive atmosphere for the industry to thrive.

The Bills, he said, would soon be placed before Cabinet and then Parliament for approval.

He said the Ministry was collaborating with stakeholders in the industry to raise productivity and improve upon its service delivery and efficiency.

Mr Owusu-Agyapong urged the participants at the workshop to critically examine their operations and recommend pragmatic solutions that would reduce transport costs for the shipper and increase the business and operational performance of suppliers of services.

The National Shippers' day, was instituted by the Shippers' Council in 1997, to create a platform for operators in the sector, including shippers, shipping lines, port authority and clearing and forwarding agents, to highlight their problems and exchange ideas to resolve them.

They also draw attention to their contribution to national development.

The bi-annual event was not marked in 1999. Instead, Ghana hosted the first African Shippers' Day.

The Council, set up in 1974, provides services such as warehousing facilities and logistics, negotiation of port tariff and information to its 23,000 registered companies.

It also addresses problems of cargo insurance claims, illegal charges and levies and shipment problems.