Berthing

Applies to users without a window or those who look likely to miss their window in a given week.

(a) Users or agents of the user are to forward to the Napier Port’s Operations Centre (by email to marinegroup@napierport.co.nz, copy to planners@napierport.co.nz for container vessels and generalcargo@napierport.co.nz for bulk vessels) the Berthage and Cargo Advice Form giving a minimum of six (6) days clear notice (cut-off midday six days) prior to their ETA at the pilot station. Failure to forward this advice form within the timeframe stated will affect berth priorities in the event of a clash. A clash is determined to be within two (2) hours of intended ETA of other vessels without a window or those vessels who miss their window.
(b) This ETA is to be reconfirmed by users or agents of the user no later than midday (1200 hours) on the day preceding the intended ETA.

Users or agents of the user completing both the above criteria will be granted a two (2) hour berthing window between the confirmed ETA and the actual ETA. If a vessel is unable to arrive at the pilot station within two (2) hours, then any other vessel requiring the berth and two cranes and meeting the two-hour arrival criteria assumes priority.

It is expected that all information provided to Napier Port for operational planning purposes is as accurate as can be at the time it is advised.

In all cases, to maintain berth priority, a vessel must berth and work upon arrival. In the same instance, a vessel that can work through to completion will be given preference over a vessel whose ETD will be delayed awaiting the arrival of cargo at the port.

Vessels can only await cargo at the berth with the agreement of Napier Port, providing they are not holding up another container vessel. The movement of vessels that are tide-constrained, shall, in the interest of safety and berth productivity, take precedence over other vessels (including vessels whose window is disrupted by a surge event).

1. Subject to the above, if ETAs are equal, or within two (2) hours of both ETAs at midday (1200 hours) on the day preceding the intended ETA then the Berthage and Cargo Advice Form presented six clear days prior to arrival will be compared. The vessel within the two-hour window of its six day intended ETA shall have priority. If both vessels are within the two hour window or both are outside the two hour window, the vessel whose actual time of arrival is closest to its six day ETA advice will have priority, provided it can work on arrival as above. The decision as to which vessel will prevail in the above case will be communicated by Napier Port’s container terminal planners by 1500 hours on the day preceding the intended ETA.

2. Vessels arriving more than two hours ahead of their previously notified six day ETA will not have any priority unless they can work and sail without affecting following vessels, particularly those with windows.

3. Priority on No.5 Wharf will be given to container vessels routinely using two or more shore cranes on a scheduled liner service.

4. Users must supply a load list to Napier Port planners no later than 1600 hours the day before for vessels commencing work prior to 1600 the next day, otherwise eight hours prior to a vessel commencing work after 1600 hours the same day. The only exception to the above requirements is in those instances where vessels are berthed at the request of Napier Port.

5. Users whose vessels are vying for the berth may vary the above arrangements by mutual agreement between themselves and Napier Port, confirmed in writing so long as no other vessels are inconvenienced. Any cost to realign the terminal for the change in berthing priority will be borne by the line requesting the change.

6. The definition of regular services includes extra loader calls of a regular liner service. Extra loaders will be afforded the same priority as regular liner services so long as all vessels conform to these procedures.

7. Services which do not publish Napier as a continuous year-round call (weekly or bi-weekly) will be treated as a lower priority compared to those regular liner services that conform with these procedures.

8. The At Berth time commences from first line ashore on berthing to last line released at sailing;

(a) Users or agents of the user are to forward to the Napier Port’s Marine Team e-mail,( marinegroup@napierport.co.nz, copy to planners@napierport.co.nz for container vessels and generalcargo@napierport.co.nz for bulk vessels) the Berthage and Cargo Advice Form giving a minimum of six (6) days clear notice (cut-off midday six days) prior to their ETA at the pilot station.

(b) This ETA is to be reconfirmed by the user or agents of the user no later than midday (1200 hours) on the day preceding the intended ETA.

Containers:

Users or agents of the user completing both the above criteria will be granted a two (2) hour berthing window between the confirmed ETA and the actual ETA. If a vessel is unable to arrive at the pilot station within two (2) hours, then any other vessel requiring the berth and two cranes and meeting the two hour arrival criteria assumes priority.

It is expected that all information provided to Napier Port for operational planning purposes is as accurate as can be at the time it is advised.

In all cases, to maintain berth priority, a vessel must berth and work upon arrival. In the same instance, a vessel that can work through to completion will be given preference over a vessel whose ETD will be delayed awaiting cargo to arrive at the port.

Napier Port’s clear preference is for all vessels to work continuously, 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

Vessels can only await cargo at the berth with the written agreement of Napier Port, providing they are not holding up another vessel. The movement of vessels that are tidally constrained, shall, in the interests of safety and berth productivity, take precedence over other vessels.

1. Users whose vessels are constrained to a particular berth by reason of length, draft or cargo aggregation will have priority on those berths, e.g.

2. Cruise vessels that book a berth with ETA and ETD 12 months in advance have specific scheduling requirements and will receive priority over other vessels. To accommodate fluid operational planning and requirements, Napier Port will confirm the exact berth that the cruise vessel will berth at 48 hours before arrival.

Cruise vessel berth allocation matrix:
First choice of berth if available is 2 South, however LOA and other vessels movements will be used as a further determining factor for berth allocation.

3. Cruise vessels are given priority to berth on 5 Wharf until a review of container lines’ berthing windows has been completed.

4. Napier Port provides a reserved berth for cruise vessels to ensure they have guaranteed berth access ahead of any other potential port user. In the event of any cruise vessel cancelling its Napier call, charges will apply as per the fees and charges tariff schedule.

5. Only those fishing vessels with draft of greater than 2.4 metres are able to occupy a berth. The fishing fleet has no berth priority and as a condition of berth allocation must be prepared to shift berth as required and at no cost to Napier Port.

6. Laying over due to vessel maintenance, bunkering, icing and discharging of fishing vessels can only occur with the permission of Napier Port. Cargo activities of other vessels take priority over fishing vessels.

7. Unless all cargo to be loaded on a bulk vessel has a validated Customs Export Delivery Order (CEDO), Napier Port reserves the right to refuse to berth the vessel (i.e. no pilot will board the vessel).

8. The At Berth time commences from first line ashore on berthing to last line released at sailing; Napier Port agrees to a one hour period of grace before any day thereafter marine service charge applies. However, after the 60 minute period of grace, there will be no further exemptions.

1. If the user or cargo owner requests a shift of berth (for bunkering, cargo mix, cargo exchange productivity, berth preference or any other benefit to the ship call), the user is to pay the cost of the vessel shift. The party benefiting from this movement would be required to meet costs of the movement (except where there is an advised berth priority). Acceptance of these charges will be required in writing prior to any movements taking place.

2. Where practical all movements will be undertaken during meal breaks, change of shifts or at times convenient to the parties affected.

Practical examples:

(a) A log vessel is moved from 1 Wharf to 2 South for bunkering purposes. The vessel pays for the movement.
(b) Two fertiliser vessels are berthed, one on 1 Wharf and the other on 2 North. A log vessel requires 1 Wharf, so the log vessel pays to move the fertiliser vessel.
(c) A log vessel on 1 Wharf which has completed loading (but not lashing) and another log vessel wants the berth. The incoming vessel requiring the berth will be charged to move the vessel occupying the berth.
(d) A log vessel is on 1 Wharf but due to crane or equipment breakdowns, cargo availability or labour shortages can only operate one gang and another vessel can work three or more gangs. Priority will be given to the vessel who can work more gangs. The vessel occupying the berth will be required to move. Where possible, six or more hours’ notice will be provided. For this example, if a vessel is finishing and down to one gang with less than six hours work, it would remain on the berth.
(e) A reefer charter vessel wants to load palletised cargo, containers (using a Napier Port crane) and bunker. The only berth that can accommodate this complete request is 2 South. If a vessel with a priority requires 2 South, the reefer charter vessel would be required to move at their cost as all of these operations can occur at other berths.
(f) A reefer charter vessel wants to load pallets of apples/meat/squash and containers (using a Napier Port crane). If 5 Wharf, 2 Wharf and 1 Wharf are unavailable on arrival, the reefer charter would be required to load at 3 or 4 Wharf then pay to move to a hard-standing wharf in order to use a Napier Port crane.
(g) A geared container vessel is berthed on 6 or 5 Wharf and a non-geared container vessel requires the berth. As the geared vessel has a lower priority, it must be moved to accommodate the non-geared vessel. The cost of the movement would be to the non-geared vessel.

1. First priority is for container vessels on scheduled liner services routinely using three cranes, normally at 6 / 5 Wharf. These services include but are not restricted to: Southern Star, Japan Conference (ONE, Hamburg Sud, COSCO), Maersk/Hamburg Sud, NZX Service (OOCL, PIL), MSC and CMA CGM.

2. Second priority is to geared container vessels not routinely using two cranes on scheduled liner services and/or where a proportion of the cargo exchange is not containerised. Example: PFL.

3. The third priority is to general cargo and bulk vessels (with or without ship’s gear). Example: Seatrade, which can carry containers on deck.

4. If a lower priority vessel is first at the berth and a later higher priority vessel requires the crane, the lower priority vessel is to be informed at time of crane ordering that the crane(s) will be required for the higher priority vessel. At no time is a crane to be removed from a lower priority vessel without prior notification and/or agreement. Napier Port is not obligated to complete working cargo if the crane(s) are required later for a higher priority vessel.

5. Shore cranes working on any bulk vessel will be by prior approval by Napier Port.