1

Authority

1.1 Section 6 (a) (ii) (iii) (v) and 20 of P.D. 857

1.2 Section 12 of PPA AO No. 03-85

2

Scope

This Order shall cover all foreign and domestic vessels with 1,500 gross registered tonnage and above which dock/undock at Makar Wharf, Port of General Santos and at other ports within the SOCSARGEN area.

3

Objective

To protect government port facilities and to ensure the safe maneuvering of vessels at the ports within the jurisdiction of PMO-General Santos.

4

Guidelines

4.1 Responsibility for Ensuring Availability of Tug Assistance - The Authority (PPA) shall provide tug assistance service by authorizing shipping companies or private entities to provide such service on a non-exclusive basis.

4.2 Permit to Operate Tug Assistance - No operator shall provide tug assistance within the harbor limits unless in possession of an annual permit duly issued by the Authority, subject to such terms and conditions as it may deem proper, in addition to the requirements of other agencies. The tugboat operator shall provide the equipment needed to render an efficient service.

Tugboats towing barges/lighters are exempted from the above required annual permit when utilized solely for their own barges/lighters. Otherwise, the above permit is required when servicing other vessels for purposes of this regulation.

4.3 Table of Tug Requirements - Tug assistance requirements shall be determined on the basis of the gross registered tons (GRT) of the vessels and capacity (horsepower-HP) of the tugs in accordance with the following specifications:

VESSEL TONNAGE

TUG BOAT CAPACITY

   

    1,500 - 3,000 GRT

-

500 HP tug or equivalent

  3,001 - 10,000 GRT

-

700 HP tug or equivalent

  10,001 - 15,000 GRT

-

1,000 HP tug or equivalent

  15,001 GRT and above

-

1,500 HP tug or equivalent

 

In the absence or insufficiency of tugboats, a combination of motor launches to comprise a combined HP capacity equivalent to the required tugs may be allowed. Vessels with both functional bow and stern side thrusters of sufficient capacity are exempted from the above tug requirement. Vessels with functional bow thrusters only are required to have 50% of the above tug horsepower requirements.

Non-propelled vessels such as barges/lighters are likewise exempted from the above requirement. However, they are still required to maintain their own tugboats while at berth in accordance with PPA Memorandum Circular No. 22-86.

In no case shall any vessel of 1,500 GRT and above be allowed to dock and undock at the Makar Wharf and at other ports within the SOCSARGEN area without the above-specified tug assistance.

4.4 Rates for Tug Services - Consistent with existing applicable laws, the Authority shall prescribe fees and rates for tug assistance in consultation with port users concerned. In the absence of applicable fees, the rates chargeable shall be those that are agreed upon between the shipping company and at the tugboat operator. In case of disagreement between them, the Authority shall determine the rates.

4.5 Liability for Damages to Port Facilities - Any damage caused to port facilities by vessels under tug assistance service shall be the liability of the party/parties declared at fault, as determined under existing applicable laws.

5

Separability Clause

If for any reason, any section or part of this Order is declared unconstitutional or invalid by competent Authority, the declared or invalid section or part thereof shall not affect the other sections or parts of which such declaration or nullity does not apply or relate.

6

Repealing Clause

All PPA orders which are inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed or amended accordingly.

7

Effectivity

This Order shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in any newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 13 Feb. 1996

(SGD.) CARLOS L. AGUSTIN
General Manager