As the Energy LEAP Board considers its priorities for 2022, the views of the industry are sought as input to the discussion around the future of the Public Dock List.

What is Public Dock? Originally conceived several years ago, the List represents the “Dock” facilities which are deemed to have an ownership which can be considered “Public.”

Docks are NOT considered “Public” if they have a commercial ownership structure which includes parties who themselves are commercial trading entities. This definition has been clearly laid down in the papers which are published on the Energy LEAP website and can be read here.

The value in this definition, is that it allows contracts to be utilised with wording that refers to Public Docks, which allow for a streamline handling of operational matters, including demurrage at these Docks.

Current Situation:  Whilst the Energy LEAP definition and Energy LEAP contract wording remain available to the industry, these are also accompanied by a specific List of Docks. Over time this list has been reviewed and amended, and the latest review in July 2020 confirmed that the version from August 2018 remained valid. Industry changes in 2021 have not been reviewed, and a couple of enquiries have recently arisen.

During the pandemic, and as a result of organisational changes in a number of organisations, most of the long-standing members of the committee are no longer available to support this forum. Moreover, in the November Board meeting, none of the current Energy LEAP Board members support further investment of their resources in running this committee going forward.

What is Proposed ? The Energy LEAP Board is therefore considering a proposal to discontinue this Committee, and instead to ask those in the Industry who utilise these texts, to instead rely upon the definition and associated contract wording as being sufficient for participants to self-agree on individual use-cases.

Is There an Alternative? The option to reconstitute this forum would only be feasible if there is a viable community of representatives who can provide the necessary expertise and quorum for this to take place.  This would require representatives with credible subject matter expertise to come forward and are able to form a viable committee to agree on changes to individual use cases on the list. Energy LEAP can host and facilitate such a forum, but the subject matter expertise will need to be provided by the representatives.

Feedback is Welcomed : Energy LEAP welcomes organisations who want to become members and have their voices heard in this discussion. Energy LEAP therefore seeks your feedback, as to whether you are supportive of the proposed “Discontinue the List” option or whether you can provide a subject matter representative to enable this forum to be “Reconstituted.”

We look forward to hearing from you, using our contact form here.

Please reply by 7 Dec to ensure your views are heard in this consultation. The Board meets to consider feedback in its next meeting on 14 Dec 2021.

Peter Harvey, Energy LEAP Programme Director