The Manila North Harbour Port Inc. (MNHPI) has drafted new guidelines for the utilization of its quay cranes at the North Port.
Under the proposed rules, MNHPI will introduce a berthing window in order to maximize use of the cranes, primarily intended for container operations.
Shipping lines granted a berthing window will still be required to apply for a berth to confirm vessel arrival. If the vessel arrives more than six hours late from its estimated time of arrival, the berthing window will be forfeited and the vessel may be assigned the next available quay crane.
Shipping lines with no fixed window may apply for berthing during the free windows; the quay crane berthing sequence will be on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Once a vessel is serviced, the shipping line may add more boxes provided this does not affect berthing schedule of the next incoming vessel, or the agreed completion time of other vessels already alongside.
Based on the draft guidelines, the length of berth stay will be determined by the “committed volume of exchange per vessel call”, attached to a shipping line’s contract with MNHPI.
The quay crane berthing sequence will be finalized during the daily berthing meeting every 1:30pm and acknowledged by each carrier “to ensure smooth sequencing of vessels”.
MNHPI proposed that berth application be done at least 24 hours before vessel’s ETA, for it to be considered on the berthing sequence.
For basis of billing, MNHPI will accomplish a quay crane-vessel summary report (QC-VSR) per vessel voyage upon completion of discharging and loading operations of the vessel voyage.
The QC-VSR contains details on the vessel, cargo handled, date of time of arrival, discharge and loading, and details of standby billable hours and volume handled per shift.
Amendment to vessel ETA must be provided before 1:00pm to be considered for the berthing meeting.
MNHPI will meet with domestic shipping lines to discuss the draft guidelines.
Photo courtesy of Manila North Harbour Port Inc.
