RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
19April 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-0968)
Negotiating Group onMaritime Transport Services Original: French
COMMUNICATION FROM TUNISIA
Response toQuestionnaire onMaritime Transport Services
TheattachedcommunicationiscirculatedattherequestofTunisiatoMembersoftheNegotiating
Group onMaritime Transport Services.S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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I. Market structure
Vessels
1. Structure ofthenational fleetbelonging toState-owned andprivate Tunisian shipping lines.
Reference month: December 1994
Structure ofnationally-owned oroperated fleet
Types ofvessels Number ofvessels Deadweight tonnage
National flag Foreign flag National flag Foreign flag
Oiltankers 1 - 9,600 -
Chemical tankers 3 - 37,733 -
Ore/bulk carriers 3 - 57,955 -
General cargo 7 - 51,143 -
Ro-ro 2 - 5,035 -
Passenger vessels 1 - 2,000 -
Allvessels 17 163,466
Trade
2. More than95percentofTunisian international trade iscarried bysea.
(1,000 T)
Trade carried bysea 1993
Volume1(Imports +exports) 17,955
1Source: OPNT +PortoflaSkhira
3. Share ofimports andexports intotalinternational trade carried bysea:
(1,000 T)
Flow 1993 Share (%)
Imports 9,002 50.13
Exports 8,953 49.87
CMIT117,955 100.00
1Tunisian international trade carried byseaS/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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4. Share oftotalinternational seatrade carried bynational-flag vessels andvessels chartered by
Tunisian shipping lines:
(1,000 T)
1993 National-flag vessels Chartered vessels Total Percentage share (%)
1.Regular lines
General cargo 348 501 849 27.33
2.Tramping
Drybulk
Liquid bulk311
601404
422715
1,02311.57
11.78
Total 1,260 1,327 2,587 14.41
Share oftraffic (%) 7.02 7.39 14.41
1Source: Compagnie Tunisienne deNavigation +Tunisian Shipping Compagnie +Gabes chimie Transport.
5. Home trading isoperated bydomestic shipping companies using theirownvessels aswellas
chartered vessels.
Source: OPNT +CTN
Volume in1993 %
Owned vessels (National-flag) 549 34.63
Chartered vessels (Foreign-flag) 1,036 65.37
Volume ofhome trading 1,585 100.0
Organization ofcargo
6. Share ininternational trade carried bylinershipping, bydrybulkshipping andbyliquid bulk
shipping:
Source: OPNT (1,000 T)
1993 International trade carried bysea %
Regular lines 3,101 17.27
Drybulk 6,177 34.5
Liquid bulk 8,677 48.33
Total 17,955 100.0
7. Thevolume oflinershipping carried bytheTunisia-South France Conference in1993amounted
to602,414 tonnes, representing freight revenues of195,218.717 FF.S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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8. Theestimated share ofshipping companies oftheTunisia-South France Conference towhich
theUnited Nations Code ofConduct forLiner Conferences applies isindicated inthetablebelow:
Volume in% Value ofcargo in%
Tunisian shipping companies 45.92 49.07
French shipping companies 51.92 47.49
Third-country shipping companies 2.16 3.44
Total 100.0 100.0
9. None.
10. Containerized liner cargo for1993 totalled 62,730 containers, representing atonnage of
439,984 tonnes.
11. Until1993,multimodaltransportdidnotformpartofthetransportsystemanditsvolumeremains
negligible.
Ports andauxiliary services
12. National porttraffic forinternational trade cargoes isdistributed asfollows:
(1,000 T)
National porttraffic International trade
Port Incoming Outgoing Total Import Export Total
Tunis 238.85 37.67 275.52 238.85 37.67 276.52
Goulette 365.07 42.75 407.82 365.07 42.75 407.82
Radès 2,821.09 424.43 3,245.52 2,708.80 424.43 3,133.23
Bizerte 2,665.79 1,481.09 1,746.88 1,580.64 975.72 2,556.36
Sousse 466.16 137.78 603.94 373.85 137.78 511.63
Sfax 2,182.65 2,108.53 4,291.18 1,912.95 2,086.05 3,999
Gabès 1,415.51 1,378.27 2,793.78 1,385.95 1,361.61 2,747.56
Zarzis 6.75 343.04 349.79 6.75 343.04 349.04
Skhira 446.55 4,577.24 3,973.51 429.89 3,543.62 3,973.51
Total 10,608.42 10,530.80 21,139.22 9,002.75 8,952.67 17,955.43
13. Thefollowing services:
- Container station anddepot;
- Maritime agency;
- Maritime freight forwarding;
- Maritime cargo handling;S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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- Storage andwarehouse;
- Customs clearance;
- Maintenance andrepair ofvessels,
areoperated byTunisian natural orlegal persons. Itmust bestressed thatanyforeigner mayenter
anyshipping profession ifentitled todosounder theprovisions oftheinternational conventions and
agreements inforce between Tunisia andhisorhercountry oforigin andsubject toreciprocity.
14. Only national suppliers operate intheinland movement bytrain orboatofinternational
waterborne trade cargoes.
II. Regulatory structure
General
1. Institutional arrangements applying totheinternational maritime transport sector:
A. Laws
- LawNo.62-13 of24April 1962 promulgating theMaritime Trade Code;
- LawNo.77-13 of17March 1977 ontheorganization ofthemaritime professions,
anditsimplementing regulations (thisLawhasbeenamended andanewtextisbeing
published);
- LawNo.80-22 of23May1980 ratifying theSOLAS-74 Convention;
- LawNo.80-33 of28May1980authorizing theaccession ofTunisia totheHamburg
Convention;
- LawNo.93-48 of3May1993 amending theExchange Code promulgated byLaw
76-18 of21January 1976 (horizontal measures);
- LawNo.94-45 of9May1994ratifying the1993International Convention onMaritime
Liens andMortgages;
- LawNo.94-46of9May1994ratifyingthe1978InternationalConventiononStandards
ofTraining, Certification andWatchkeeping forSeafarers;
- Decree LawNo.61-14 of30August 1961 onconditions fortheexercise ofcertain
commercial activities (horizontal measures).
B. Decrees
- Decree of10February 1896 onthegeneral regulation ofcommercial seaports;
- Decree of29December 1955 reforming andcodifying customs legislation;
- Decree 74-29 of10July1974supplementing Decree 74-29 of16January 1974fixing
theloanratewithrespect tothelimitation ofshipowners 'liability;S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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- Decree No.88-229 of6February 1988 abrogating Decree No.82-1386 of
22October 1982andtheorders of26February 1982setting theratesofduesandfees
charged tousers bytheOffice ofTunisian National Ports incommercial ports;
- Decree No.90-2259 of31December 1990 setting credit rates withrespect tothe
limitation ofshipowners 'liability;
- Decree No. 93-59 of11January 1993 amending Decree No. 91-1996 of
23December 1991onproducts andservices excluded fromthefreeprice regime and
onarrangements fortheirregulation;
- Decree No.93-1696 of16August 1993ontheliberalization ofexchange operations.
C. Orders
- Orders oftheDirector ofPublic Works dated 10August 1950 establishing specific
regulations fortheports ofTunis-Goulette, Bizerte, Sousse andSfax;
- Order oftheMinister ofTransport andCommunications dated 3November 1980setting
maximum lighterage ratesfortheports ofTunis-Goulette, Bizerte, Sousse, Sfaxand
Gabès forcargo other thansolid fuels.
2. Bulkshipping (dryandliquid) issubject totheprinciple offreeaccess onacommercial basis.
3. Cargo shipping ontheregular Tunisia-South France lineisgoverned bytheprovisions ofthe
United Nations Convention onaCode ofConduct forLiner Conferences.
Other regular linesaregoverned bytheprinciple offreeaccess.
4. Therearenospecificregulationscurrentlyinforcegoverninginternationalmultimodaltransport.
Adraftlawconcerning forwarding agents andbrokers inthetransport sector iscurrently being
published.
General andbulkdomestic shipping lines, shippers andapproved domestic intermediaries may
rentorlease barges, trucks andrelated equipment forthepurpose ofinland forwarding ofcargoes.
Fortheinland roadtransport ofinternational cargo, foreign carriers mayoperate within the
framework ofbilateral agreements providing forthereciprocal application ofquotas toroadtraffic,
which remains subject tothedelivery bythereceiving country ofatransport permit.
5. Responsibility forthemanagement ofthecountry 'sports hasbeenentrusted toafinancially
autonomous industrial andcommercial public corporation known astheOffice ofTunisian National
Ports (OPNT).
TheOPNT operates andmanages Tunisian commercial shipping ports (except fortheportof
Skhira).
Itisresponsible fortheoperation, development andmaintenance ofportfacilities suchas:
- channel entrances andsea-walls;
- quays;S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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- wharf areas andsheds;
- national portfacilities.
Italsoprovides most public services connected withthepassage ofanyvessel through one
oftheports under itsauthority, forexample:
- pilotage;
- tugassistance;
- berth andberthing services;
- drinking water, electricity, telephone, etc.;
- allocation ofcargo space atthestorage site;
- rental ofstorage space;
- specialized quayfacilities andadjacent areas setaside forbulkimporters orexporters
(cereals, phosphates, fertilizers, hydrocarbons, etc.).
Inaddition, national portfacilities outside theportcustoms zonearerented outorgranted.
6. International maritime transport isunderstood tobethetransport ofcargo andpassengers by
seatoandfrom Tunisia onthebasis ofatransport contract under which thecarrier takes over
responsibility forthecargo andundertakes todeliver ittoitsdestination.
7. Anational shipping enterprise isunderstood tobeashipping company owning oneorseveral
vessels registered inTunisia, acting asavessel operating carrier which hasitsheadoffice ofmanagement
anditseffective control inTunisia andisrecognized assuchbythecompetent Tunisian authorities.
Market access
8.(a)Yes,there aremeasures limiting access tothenational shipping market.
These measures relate to:
- Thepriorgranting ofalicence fortheexercise ofamaritime profession (shipping agent,
shipchandler, lighterman, shipoperator, ocean carrier, etc.).
Itshould bepointed outthatanewdraftlawonthemaritime professions isintheprocess of
being published. Theaimofthisdraft istosimplify andfacilitate theprocedure forobtaining
authorization toengage inthemaritime professions andtopromote thecompetence andperformance
oftheprofessionals concerned.
Thefollowing portservices arereserved exclusively fortheOffice ofNational Ports:
- Pilotage;
- Tugassistance;
- In-shore pilotage (ports ofRadès andSfax).S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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8.(a')Shippers canobtain authorization fortime/trip charters onlyaftertheTunisian shipowners have
beenconsulted.
Domestic coastal trade isreserved forTunisian-flag vessels.
(b) Articles 188bisand188teroftheCustoms Code require thattransport operations between
Tunisian portsandtugassistance within Tunisian portsorterritorial waters andbetween Tunisian ports
bereserved forTunisian-flag vessels.
(c) There arenolimitations onthetotalnumber ofnatural persons thatmaybeemployed inthe
maritime transport services sector orthatamaritime transport services supplier mayemploy andwho
arenecessary forthesupply ofamaritime transport service.
9. There arenomeasures which restrict orrequire specific types oflegalentity orjointventure
through which amaritime transport services supplier maysupply aservice interms of:
- acommercialpresenceforacompanysupplyingbothtransportservicesaswellasrelated
auxiliary services;
- acommercial presence foracompany notnecessarily supplying bothtransport services
along-side related auxiliary services.
10. Thecodeconcerning theadministrative regulation ofmaritime navigation stipulates thatships
builtoutside Tunisia mayacquire Tunisian nationality provided thattheyareatleast51percentowned
byTunisian natural orlegalpersons.
Furthermore, Article 3ofDecree LawNo.61-14of30August 1961 allows legalpersons
tocarry onacommercial activity oncondition thatatleast50percentoftheircapital isrepresented
byregistered shares heldbyTunisian natural orlegalpersons.
Foreign participation intheseactivities issubject totheapproval oftheInvestment Commission
ifitexceeds 50percentofthecompany 'scapital.
11. Ships andvessels builtoutside Tunisia mayacquire Tunisian nationality provided that:
(1) They areatleast51percentowned byTunisian natural orlegalpersons.
(2) Thecustoms duties andcharges andtaxes applicable arepaidinadvance.
(3) Their portofregistry isinTunisia.
Quantitative requirements other thanthose referred toinQuestion 8above areinvolved.
National treatment
12. There areanumber ofmeasures infavour ofnational maritime transport services suppliers,
withrespect tointernational shipping, auxiliary services andtreatment atport(approval, nationality,
public service inconnection with theportfacilities listed intheanswer toquestion 5ofthe
questionnaire).
There isnodirect orindirect preferential treatment granted exclusively tonational shipping
enterprises (operating subsidies granted tonational shipping enterprises, discriminatory portorauxiliary
services fees,taxes onfreight orshipping services, etc.).S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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Access toanduseofportfacilities
13. Thefollowing services areavailable totheuserattheport:
- pilotage;
- towing andtugassistance;
- provisioning, fuelling andwatering;
- garbage collecting andballast waste disposal;
- navigation aids;
- shore-basedoperationalservicesessentialtoshipoperations,includingcommunications,
water andelectrical supplies.
14. Theuseofpilotage ismandatory inTunisian commercial shipping ports.
Tugassistance andguarding services forships aresubjected toadecision bythechief port
authority.
15. There isnodiscrimination inTunisian portsasregards theuseofservices available totheuser.
16. There arediscriminatory measures which restrict access toseaports (approval, nationality,
public service).
Ports involved ininternational traffic arenotclosed forentrance ofvessels owned oroperated
byforeign nationals.
17. There arenomeasures which discriminate between foreign andnational vessels withrespect
totheaccess toanduseofportandharbour facilities.
18. There arenomeasures which mandate theuseofterminal facilities.
19. There arenomeasures thatareimposed bynon-government entities.
Most-favoured-nation treatment
20. There aremeasures which provide forcargo sharing ontheregular Tunisia-South France line
inconformity withArticle 2oftheCode ofConduct forLiner Conferences.
21. These measures areapplied within theframework ofalinerconference based ontheprinciple
ofcargo sharing:
40percentforTunisia;
40percentforFrance;
20percentforthirdcountries.
22. Cargo sharing ispermitted onthebasis ofArticle 2oftheCode ofConduct forLiner
Conferences. Theagreement hasbeenapplied intheform ofanexchange ofletters between theS/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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GovernmentoftheTunisianRepublicandtheGovernmentoftheFrenchRepublic,amendingtheshipping
agreement of27October 1958, signed inParis on9July1992 andinTunis on28August 1992.
23. Therearenoothermeasuresregardingthesupplyofinternationaltransportandauxiliaryservices
which grant some countries some form ofpreferential treatment.
24. There arenomeasures which grant preferential treatment tosome countries withrespect to
theaccess toanduseofportandharbour facilities.
25. Natural andlegalpersons offoreign nationality mayonlyengage inamaritime profession in
Tunisiaiftheyareauthorizedtodosoundertheprovisionsoftheinternationalconventionsoragreements
inforce between Tunisia andtheircountry oforigin, andsubject toreciprocity.
Moreover, anyperson wishing tooperate ashipping company musthaveunrestricted ownership
ofatleastonevessel inwhich aminimum of51percentoftheshares areheldbynatural orlegal
persons ofTunisian nationality.
26. Vessels maybechartered infullorinpartonlybyapproved vessel-operating carriers.
However, dispensations maybegranted bytheMinister ofTransport where suchcarriers are
notavailable.
Beforetheconclusionofanycharteringagreement,thecharteringagentmustprovidenotification
ofhisneeds inaform ofanapplication submitted totheMinister ofTransport forsignature.
Anauthorization forchartering canonlybegranted oncethenational shipping companies have
beenconsulted.
Government procurement
27. There arenoparticular measures relating toaccess tonon-commercial cargoes inTunisia.
28. OnlypersonswhoareinconformitywiththeLawontheorganizationofthemaritimeprofessions
anditsimplementing regulations mayoperate onthemaritime transport auxiliary services market.
Thecandidate mustsatisfy theconditions relating tostanding, professional fitness andmaterial
means asstipulated intheregulations inforce.
Competition law
29. Competition andanti-trust lawsandregulations apply toallsectors, including themaritime
transport sector (horizontal measure) (with theexception ofporttariffs, which aresubject toapproval).
(a) TheTunisia-South France linerconference isgoverned bytheprinciple oftheCode
ofConduct forLiner Conferences.
(b) Thedraftlawonforwarding agents andother cargo intermediaries iscurrently being
published. Theservices offered bythese professions aregoverned bytheprinciple
ofindividual autonomy.
(c) Portservice tariffs aresubject toapproval.S/NGMTS/W/2/Add.18
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Shipping conferences
30-31-32-33-34. Theprovisions oftheUnited Nations Conference onaCode ofConduct for
Liner Conferences apply.
Shipper-carrier relations
35. TheNationalCouncilofShipperswascreatedinFebruary1994undertheauspicesoftheUTICA
(trade organization).
TheAssociation ofShipowners wasconstituted atthebeginning of1994.
36. Fortraffic operated under alinerconference, theprovisions ofArticle 7oftheCode ofConduct
forLiner Conferences apply.