Port Qasim approves reduction in berth fee

Under its tariff rationalisation plan, the Board of Directors of Port Qasim Authority (PQA) has approved reduction in berth fee by introducing charging of berth fee on six hourly basis after the first day stay and redrafting of berth fee section to account for all the terminals.
Berth fee is charged for use of wharves, quays or any other structure so erected for this purpose and is charged from all vessels at the following rates:
-- All ocean-going vessels for first 24 hours or part thereof: 0.08 dollar per Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) per day or part thereof subject to a minimum of 300 dollar per day or part thereof.
-- For every six hours thereafter or part thereof: 0.02 dollar per GRT per six hours or part thereof.
-- For country/seagoing sailing vessels: 100 dollar per day or part thereof.
-- For country craft: 0.10 dollar per GRT per day or part thereof.
-- Berth fee for the first day of stay of a vessel: 0.08 dollar per day irrespective of stay hours at the berth.
-- Birth fees will not be charged in respect of any vessel calling at the Steel Mill Terminal (SMT), carrying iron ore, coal or manganese ore for Pakistan Steel Mills, as the authority already charges a composite fee from them.
However, if the vessel overstays at the SMT and does not de-berth within 12 hours of the completion of the un-loading, unless at the convenience of the port or tidal conditions not favourable, berthing fees will be charged at the above rate.
-- Vessels transferred from moorings to the wharf or vice-versa will be charged the higher of the two fees for the day of transfer. If a vessel, which had left the port, re-enters the port the same day, the berth fees will be charged on a pro rata basis, ie for the time it has actually occupied the berth.
-- Birth hire will start from the hour the vessel is moored at the berth and finish at the hour when the vessel is un-moored. For the purpose of charging berth fee, the part of an hour would be rounded off to the next higher hour.
The authority reserves the right to order any vessel to vacate a berth in the following circumstances:
-- Idle vessel, poor performance, and berth required by the authority for any reason.
-- Vessels other than the country craft berthed at marginal wharf for convenience of the port will be subjected to the rates as applicable to them otherwise. If a vessel has more than one GRT indicated in the registration certificate, then the higher tonnage will be considered for charging the above charges.
-- For the purpose of charging the above charges, the deck cargo in measurement tonnes would be added to the GRT of the vessel, except fully cellular vessel. Berth fee at small craft jetty would be charged at the rate of 31 dollar per day or part thereof.
-- A vessel berthed alongside other vessel would be charged 50 percent of the rates otherwise applicable.
-- If having completed loading or unloading, a vessel fails to leave the marginal wharf at the scheduled sailing time, the vessel will be charged in addition to the birth fee, a sum not exceeding 413 dollar per day or part thereof for the period the vessel remains at the birth, commencing 12 hours after the time of the original scheduled sailing time unless at the convenience of the port or tidal conditions not favourable for sailing.
-- In the event of any vessel lying alongside any wharf allocated by the authority exclusively for ship repairs not complying with and refusing to leave the wharf after a period of two months and on the expiry of the notice served by the Deputy General Manager (Marine Operations) or any other authorised officer, the said vessel will become liable for payment of berth fees. This charge will also apply to vessels berthed alongside another vessel on the wharf.
-- The berth fees in respect of foreign men of war calling at the port on goodwill or courtesy visit will be exempted, in exceptional cases, by the Port Qasim Authority only when substantiated by an application from the concerned government/embassy to the government of Pakistan and agreed to and recommended by the Ministry of Defence to the Port Qasim Authority.
-- In case of vessels belonging to foreign state calling at the port on goodwill or courtesy visit, the berth fees will be exempted subject to an application made by the host department of the government of Pakistan.