Belize Port Authority Regulations

Belize Port Authority [CAP. 233 39 CHAPTER233 BELIZE PORT AUTHORITY REGULATIONS ARRANGEMENT OF REGULATIONS 1. Title. 2. Definitions. 3. Interpretation. 4. Anchorage or obstruction in turning basins and channels. 5. Unauthorised movements of ships. 6. Lights at night. 7. Ships to give way and exhibit prescribed lights. 8. Approaches to docks, ships ladders and gangways to be kept clear. 9. Sunken objects in port to be reported. 10. Pollution of air and water. 11. Power Boats. 12. Duty of owners. 13. Change of berth. 14. Unauthorised berthing. 15. Emergencies. 16. Loitering on Port Property. 17. Signs. 18. Smoking. 19. Vehicles. 20. Wharf obstrnction. 21. Ship's moorings etc. 22. Watch to be kept on board. 23. Ships to be in readiness to move. 24. Displaced mooring to be reported. 25. Condition under which ship has priority. 26. Customs, Immigration and Health formalities. 27. Ships loading or discharging. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. I Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. REVISED EDITION 2003 40 CAP. 233] Belize Port Authority 28. Ships to be worked with reasonable dispatch. 29. Ships gear repairs etc. 30. Inspection. 31 . Sanitary arrangements in Port. 32. Fire on ships. 33. Fire fighting operations. 34. Boarding or leaving ships. 35. Ship Passes. 36. Labourers and visitors to wear identification. 3 7. No liquor to be carried through port gates. 38. Dogs and cats aboard ships. 3 9. Dangerous driving. 40. Behaviour of motorists. 41. Traffic signals. 42. Explosives, inflammables and other. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed b.y the Governm.ent Printer,] No. I Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. REVISED EDITION 2003 1. Belize Port Authority CHAPTER233 BELIZE PORT AUTHORITY REGULATIONS (Section 74) [CAP. 233 [26th April, 1980.] These Regulations may be cited as the PORT AUTHORITY REGULATIONS. 2. The definitions set out in the Port Authority (T arifl) Regulations shall apply to any term contained in these Regulations and not defined in Regulation 3 hereof 3. The term "power boat" includes boats capable of developing speeds in excess of ten knots and in particular vessels propelled by outboard, inboard-outboard or inboard engines intended for speeds in excess of ten knots. 4. It shall be unlawful for any person whether as principal, servant, agent, employee, or otherwise to anchor any ship or other watercraft of any kind in any of the fairways or channels in the Port of Belize City and Commerce Bight or to otherwise obstruct navigation in the Ports. Any ship contravening this Regulation shall in addition to any penalty be liable to be removed at the ship's risk and expense. 5. No unauthorised ship shall be navigated within a quarter mile distance of the Pier of the Belize City Port. Any ship contravening this Regulation shall be guilty of an offence. 6. All ships or other watercraft, while anchored, moored or manoeuvering in the territorial waters of Belize shall between the hours of sunset and sunrise show prescribed lights. 41 32 of 1980. Title. 26 of 1980. Interpretation. Anchorage or obstruction in turning basins and channels. Unauthorised movements of ships. Lights at night. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 42 CAP. 233] Belize Port Authority Ships to give way and exhibit prescribed lights. Approaches to docks, ships ladders and gangways to be kept clear. Sunken objects in Port to be reported. Pollution of air and water. Power Boats. Duty of owners. 7. Ships within the limits of a port shall make way for ships under way and shall between the hours of sunset and sunrise exhibit the lights prescribed for their class by collision regulations. 8. Free passage shall be kept to landing places, wharves and mooring, and ships shall move when required to clear such passage. Ships' accommodation ladders and gangways shall be kept in good condition and clear of obstruction. 9. Any person responsible for the sinking of any object in a Port shall report the matter immediately to the Ports Commissioner. 10. ( 1) It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, place or discharge into the territorial waters of Belize, any ballast, dunnage, sanitary sewage, butcher's offal, garbage, dead animals, gaseous liquids or solid matter, oil, gasoline, residium of gas, calcium, carbide, trade waste, tar or refuse, or any other matter which is capable of producing floating matter or scum on the surface of the water, sediment or obstruction on the bottom of the ocean bed, or odors of gases of putrefaction. (2) All ships and all persons using port facilities shall take every precaution to avoid pollution of the air. 11. Any person who within a quarter mile of a port facility proceeds at a speed exceeding five knots or endangers other ships or structures or causes wake damage shall be guilty of an oftence. 12. (1) It is the duty of every person having control of a power boat within territorial waters ( a) so to navigate such boat as to avoid collision with or injury to any ship or person present in, on or under the water in the area occupied by or disturbed by the said boat or the THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed b.y the Governm.ent Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Belize Port Authority [CAP. 233 wash or wake thereof; or (b) to navigate such boat with due care and consideration for other persons having regard to the prevailing conditions and the reasonable likelihood of other persons being present in or coming into the area occupied by such boat and the wash and wake thereof, as the case may be. (2) No person under the age of fifteen years shall have control or navigate a power boat save under the supervision of a person over that age. (3) Every person in control of a power boat within the limits of any Harbour shall when so instructed by the Ports Commissioner (a) heave to; and (b) bring his boat alongside any place indicated by the Ports Commissioner and otherwise comply with any navigational orders issued to him by the Ports Commissioner. ( 4) When any dispute arises as to who is in control of a boat every person present therein shall be deemed to be in control until he proves the contrary. 43 13. ( 1) Every ship or other water-craft, shall at all times, have on board a Change of berth. person in charge with authority to take such action in any emergency as may be necessary to facilitate common navigation or commerce, or for the protection of other ships or property. The Ports Commissioner shall have authority to order and enforce the removal or change of berth or location of any ship or other water-craft at its own expense, to such place as he may direct, for the purpose of facilitating navigation or commerce, or for the protection of other ships or property and it shall be unlawful for the master, owner or agent of such ship to fail, neglect or refuse to obey such order. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. I Power Lane, Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. REVISED EDITION 2003 44 CAP. 233] Belize Port Authority Unauthorised berthing. Emergencies. Loitering on Port Property. Signs. Smoking. Vehicles. (2) If there is no responsible person available, or if the person in charge refuses to shift the ship as directed, the Ports Commissioner shall cause the ship to be shifted at the risk and expense ofthe owner. 14. ( 1) No person shall berth a ship other than at a designated berth and a ship berthed at a designated berth shall not be shifted without the prior approval of the Ports Commissioner. (2) Any ship berthed or shifted in contravention of paragraph (1) shall be subject to removal to a proper berth by the Ports Commissioner without notice to the owners and at the owner's expense. 15. Anyone on the port property at any time becoming aware of an emergency situation of any nature should notify an authorised officer by the fastest means, while taking such immediate action as may be appropriate. 16. ( 1) It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter upon the premises of the Authority. (2) It shall be unlawful for unauthorised persons to enter cargo movement or handling areas. 1 7. Painting signs on structures belonging to the Authority is prohibited without prior approval. Signs to be created on the port shall be furnished by the port users and erected or placed by the user after the Ports Commission shall have approved the design, material and size of said signs. 18. It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke or to light any match or to have any naked flame upon or in any facilities where smoking is prohibited by the port. 19. ( 1) It shall be unlawful to park any motor vehicle in a restricted area THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed b.y the Governm.ent Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Belize Port Authority [CAP. 233 or to park a motor vehicle, trailer or any other vehicle in loading zones for any longer period than is necessary to load or discharge cargo or passengers. (2) All vehicles entering port premises, not engaged in the transportation of cargo, shall park in the areas designated by the Authority. 45 20. (1) Stevedore's tools, appliances, equipment, vehicles or any other Wharf materials or objects which are not part of the cargo shall not be permitted to obstruction. remain on the wharves or in the transit sheds, except at the discretion of the Ports Commissioner. (2) Cargo or gear shall not be stored on the aprons, in driveways, roadways, or any other locations that would hamper normal port operations without approval of the Authority. If not removed when so ordered, it shall be subject to removal by the Authority at the agent's expense. 21. ( 1) Ships within a port shall have sufficient hands on board to attend to their moorings, and to cause them to be slackened or heave in as necessary. No rope shall be made fast except to dolphins, buoys, moorings and bollards placed for that purpose, and no wire rope may be used unless the bollards and the edge of the coping of the wharf are protected from chafes to the satisfaction of the Ports Commissioner. Chain cables may not be used for mooring alongside a wharf. (2) Ships shall anchor, moor, and berth to the satisfaction of the Ports Commissioner, and shall take such additional precautions in severe weather as may be ordered. (3) Ships alongside wharfs shall affix efficient rat guards on every line and wire connected to or reaching shore if so ordered by the Ports Commissioner. 22. A watch shall be constantly kept by day and night upon the open deck of every ship in port. Ship's moorings etc. Watch to be kept on board. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 46 CAP. 233] Belize Port Authority Ships to be in readiness to move. Displaced mooring to be reported. Condition under which ship has priority. Customs, Immigration and Health formalities. Ships loading or discharging. Ships to be worked with reasonable dispatch. 23. ( 1) Ships shall at all times be kept in a fit condition to be moved and in default the work may be performed by the Authority at the ship's risk and expense. (2) Ships entering, leaving or shifting berth within a port shall be provided with sufficient hands for the purpose and shall have on board good and sufficient warps, and no warp may be cast off unless so authorised by the Ports Commissioner. 24. If any mooring or marker buoy is dragged from its position or damaged by any ship, the fact shall be reported immediately to the Ports Commissioner and the cost of repairing or replacing the said mooring or marker shall be paid for by such ship. 25. Ships arriving at a port with intentions of discharging cargo shall have priority to berth in order of their time of arrival, but if a ship proceeds to another port and commences discharging priority shall be given to the next ship arriving. Nevertheless, the Ports Commissioner may give priority to later ships in an emergency or in order to save perishable cargo. 26. Until Customs, hnmigration and Health formalities have been completed no unauthorised person may board or leave an arriving ship. 27. Ships loading or discharging loose cargo on pallets shall cause a cargo to be placed in such manner as to prevent any such cargo from falling into the waters of the Port, and any cargo or ship's gear dropped overboard shall at once be reported by the person in charge of the ship to the Ports Commissioner and shall be recovered by such persons if it is reasonably possible for him so to do. Failing this, it may be recovered by the Ports Commissioner at the risk and expense of the owners of such ship. 2 8. ( 1) If a ship fails to take in or discharge its cargo with such dispatch as appears reasonable to the Ports Commissioner, such ship shall after notice THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed b.y the Governm.ent Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Belize Port Authority [CAP. 233 has been given to that effect to the master lose its tum and be removed from the wharf by the Ports Commissioner at the risk and expense of the ship. (2) The Ports Commissioner may, in the event of excessive accumulation of goods upon a wharf require any ship to reduce or suspend the discharge of cargo. 47 29. No ship's gear, dunnage, cattle fittings or the like shall be placed on any Ships gear repairs wharf without the Ports Commissioner's permission. etc. 30. (1) Ships in port are subject to inspection by the Ports Commissioner Inspection. at any time, which inspection may extend to every part thereof including cargo gear. (2) Such ship may be required to produce a valid cargo gear certificate issued from a source recognised by the Authority. (3) Ropes, slings and wires in general use for hoisting or lowering shall be inspected once in every three months and where explosives are being handled, all machinery and attachments, including ropes, slings, nets and wire cables shall be inspected immediately prior to use. 31. When required by the Ports Commissioner a ship's water closets and latrines shall be closed during such period as the ship is in port. All closets and latrines shall have splash boards or similar device so as to prevent fouling the wharf or any other ship. 3 2. ( 1) In the event of a fire occurring on board a ship in Port, the master or watch shall at once give the alarm and take such action towards the protection of property as the Ports Commissioner may direct. (2) Ships shall in the event of a fire on board hoist "N. Q." of the International Code and at the same time sound one long and three short blasts Sanitary arrangements in Purl. Fire on ships. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. 48 CAP. 233] Belize Port Authority Fire fighting operations. Boarding or leaving ships. Ship Passes. Labomers and visitors to wear identification. No liquor to be earned through port gates. in quick succession on the whistle. The signal "N. Q." shall be kept hoisted until the fire on board has been extinguished. 33. Persons on port areas shall comply with the instructions of constables and other authorised persons in the event of an outbreak of fire, and shall not obstruct or interfere with fire fighting operations. 34. Whoever, except with the permission of the Ports Commissioner, boards or leaves a ship while such ship is in motion or otherwise than by means of a gangway or efficient pilot ladder is guilty of an offence. 3 5. Ships will be provided with sufficient passes by the Ports Commissioner for crew members. No crew member will be permitted to leave or enter a port area without a pass; such passes must be returned to the Ports Commissioner one hour before sailing time posted on board such ship in order to ensure that all crew members are on board. 3 6. ( 1) The Ports C01m1issioner may require labourers and visitors witlnn a port to wear identification discs. (2) Labourers and visitors shall collect identification discs at the Authority's Office and shall enter or leave the port area through the port gate provided for the purpose and while on port prennses are subject to the Ports Commissioner's lawful orders. The Ports Commissioner may, ifhe so desires, have all persons and vehicles checked before entering and leaving port areas. 37. No persons shall supply or convey or deliver any intoxicating liquor to any crew member or to any other person on board any ship in port unless (a) purchased with the consent of the master of the ship, from a person licensed to sell the same; (b) such liquor is delivered in bond and checked and sealed THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed b.y the Governm.ent Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize. Belize Port Authority [CAP. 233 by Customs, the said seal not to be broken while the ship is within the Port limits. 38. Dogs and cats are not permitted to land from ships without a certificate from a Veterinarian at the last port of call and port of origin (if different) and a permit from a Government Veterinary Officer showing that the said animal is free from disease. 39. Whoever drives a mechanically propelled vehicle within a port area so as to cause danger to any person or property is guilty of an offence. 40. Drivers and persons in charge of mechanically propelled vehicles shall at all times while entering or leaving a port area conduct themselves in an orderly manner and comply with such orders as may from time to time be issued by the Ports, Commissioner and with the terms of any notices and signs exhibited by order of the Authority. 41. Whoever in a port area disregards a traffic signal or fails to stop when called upon to do so by a constable or other authorized person is guilty of an offence. 4 2. Explosives, inflammables and other hazardous commodities or materials shall not be handed over or received on the wharfs or other facilities of the Port Authority until and unless approval is obtained from the Commissioner of Police. 49 Dogs and cats aboard ships. Dangerous driving. Behaviour of motorists. Traffic signals. Explosives, inflammables and other. THE SUBSIDIARY LAWS OF BELIZE [ Printed by the Government Printer,] No. I Power Lane, REVISED EDITION 2003 Belmopan, by the authority of the Government of Belize.