SAMSUNPORT REGULATIONS
Regulations no: 618
C.M.D. Date – No : 16/07/1970 - 7/981
Legal Base Date – No : 14/04/1341 - 618
Off. Gaz. Publ. Date – No: 20/08/1970 - 13585
Section One : Definition
Article 1 - (Amended Article: 09/08/1991 - 91/2081 K.)
SamsunPort is the sea area between the shore and the line connecting point lat. 41° 21’00" north, long. 36° 14’ 10" east and point lat. 41° 15’30" north, long 36° 23’10" east.
Article 2 -SamsunPort is divided two sections as inner port and outer port.
a) InnerPort: The sea area inside of the line connecting Northern and Eastern breakwaters and the lights on the tip of these breakwaters.
b) OuterPort: The sea area between port limit and the limit of the inner port.
Section Two : Mooring, Berthing and Anchorage areas of Ships in Port
Article 3 –Berthing andstern mooring spaces for ships in the inner port are as shown below:
A) Main Berth:
This berth is reserved for loading and discharging of passenger ships and cargo ships of 300 NRT or bigger. However, if there are no spaces left in the small craft berths and the main berth is suitable, ships less than 300 NRT may be taken to this berth temporarily with the permission of the Harbour Master’s office.
B) Small Craft Berth:
This berth is reserved for loading and discharging of cargo ships of less than 300 NRT.
C) Bunker Berth:
This berth is reserved for loading and discharging of ships loaded with explosive, flammable and similar dangerous goods.
D) Eastern Breakwater:
Warships, naval auxiliaries, cargo and passenger ships called to port for inevitable reasons and ships in queue for a berth moor to bollards in this breakwater by the stern.
Article 4 –Outer port is the free anchorage area of ships. However, in order to ensure the safety of entrance to and exit from the inner port, marine craft can not anchor, stop or swing in part or fully into this area limited by an imaginary line of lat. 41° 18’ 21" N, long.: 36° 21’ 40" E. and lat. : 41° 18’ 33" N, long. : 36° 21’ 38" E in the outer port, connecting the tip points of imaginary parallel lines drawn to 110o true bearing from the lights on the tips of Northern and Eastern breakwaters.
Article 5 –Inner port area between the imaginary lines drawn to true west from points 1.095 and 1.695 meters distant along the breakwater from the light on the tip of the Eastern breakwater is the anchorage area for ships less than 500 GRT.
However, in mandatory circumstances bigger ships may anchor in this area with the permission of the Harbour Master.
Article 6 - Inner port area around Mert river of the imaginary line drawn to true west from a point 1.695 meters distant along the breakwater from the light on the tip of the Eastern breakwater is the anchorage area for small merchant ships with appropriate drafts and recreational, fishing and sports craft.
Article 7 –Foreign warships visiting SamsunPort and Turkish warships and tourist ships calling to port berth, anchor or moor by the stern to designated areas by notifying their arrival 48 hours earlier to Harbour Master.
For tourist ships, yachts and recreational craft; anchorage, stern mooring and berthing places are determined and designated by Harbour Master and for warships, mutually by port management, Harbour Master and transportation section group commandment if naval forces representative is not available.
Article 8 –Ships berthing to berths and wharves in the inner port and ships that will moor stern first to Eastern breakwater are taken to places designated to themselves by Harbour Master in accordance with their sequence of arrival to port.
Article 9 –Recreational, sports or fishing craft may berth to or taken out of water in places designated by Governorship, Municipality, Harbour Master and port management mutually, until special berthing places and slipways are constructed in the port.
Section Three:Carriage of dangerous Goods
Article 10 –Carriage, loading and discharging of explosive, combustible, flammable and similar substances and other dangerous goods within the port are carried out in specially suitable vessels and containers in accordance with the provisions of (Regulations Regarding Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Merchant Ships), (Regulations Regarding Inspection of Gunpowder, Explosive Substances, Guns and Parts and Hunting Equipment ) and (Regulations Regarding Precautions to Be Taken in the Workshops Working with Combustible, Explosive, Dangerous and Harmful Substances) and by taking the necessary safety precautions.
Article 11 -Ships carrying explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods hoist B (Bravo) flag during daytime and show a red light visible all around during night time.
Article 12 –Owner, master or agents of the ships carrying explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods notify Harbour Master’s office in writing or with cable message about the type and quantity of the cargo on board, at least 24 hours before arrival of the ship to port.
Article 13 –Ships carrying explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods can not anchor, berth to berths or wharves in other parts of the inner port or load or discharge these goods except bunker berth and bunker buoys in collateral breakwater.
Article 14 –Warships may enter into inner port provided they secure their gunnery.
Article 15 – For waiting or transhipment, ships carrying explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods anchor within the imaginary circle with a diameter of 550 meters, drawn as the point in true bearing 157o and distance 2,525 meters from the Eastern breakwater light is the centre.
However, if it is not possible to stay in anchor due to weather conditions, ships may moor sternwise to first and second bollards from the tip of the Eastern breakwater, by the permission of the Harbour Master.
Article 16 -The loading and discharging of the explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods on the berth on collateral breakwater are carried out during the time between sunrise and sunset.
However, ships loading or discharging oil products in bulk may continue their work during night.
Explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods discharged from ships are sent out of the port area immediately by loading to land vehicles. Such goods that are to be exported from the port are loaded to ships without waiting.
Article 17 –Ships burning coal as bunkers can not come alongside, exchange pilots or tow such ships carrying explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods.
Chapter Four : Safety of Navigation in Port
Article 18 –A ship entering to the port shall give way to a ship exiting from the port and wait in the outer port. But in the circumstances where there is a risk of collision existing, both ships shall take the necessary precautions.
Article 19 –Recreational and sports craft can neither sail in a manner obstructing the manoeuvre of ships berthing or unberthing to berths or quays or ships mooring or unmooring sternwise to breakwater in the inner port, nor can have a speed more than 10 knots. Such craft can not sail with a dangerous speed in the other parts of the port and in close proximity of beaches and oared boats.
Article 20 –Sailing can not be carried out in the inner port.
Article 21 –Buoy tendering, cable and similar works within the port are carried out with the permission of the Harbour Master.
Article 22 –Ships passing in proximity of craft engaged with cable, diving and similar works shall sail with a speed not harming such work.
Article 23 - (Amended article: 21/02/1983 - 83/6097 K.)
Ships when entering to or exiting from the inner port and Turkish ships of 300 GRT or bigger and foreign ships of all tonnages, when berthing to berths and quays in inner or outer port, mooring to buoys and mooring sternwise to Eastern breakwater, anchoring to inner port or leaving these places, shall take a pilot.
Turkish ships of 1000 GRT or bigger and foreign ships of 500 GRT or bigger shall employ a tugboat and ships of 4000 GRT or more shall employ at least two tugboats when berthing to berths and wharves, mooring by stern, mooring to buoys and when leaving these areas.
Port management is responsible for giving pilotage and tugboat services.
Article 24 –Ships taking pilots shall embark the pilot in the outer port. If the pilot craft is unable to sail to outer port due to weather conditions, ships may take the pilot in the entrance to inner port.
Article 25 - (Amended article: 21/02/1983 - 83/6097 K.)
Turkish and foreign warships, naval auxiliaries, and school training ships are not within the scope of compulsory pilotage and tugboat. Pilots and tugboats assigned such ships only upon their request.
Chapter Five : Discipline in Port
Article 26 –Net fishing can not be carried out in the inner port. Angle fishing can not be carried out in entry-exit routes to inner port and in the manoeuvring area of the ships.
Article 27 - Rubble, ballast, garbage and similar substances can not be discharged to the sea within the port limits. Oil and similar pollutant goods can not be pumped into the sea, tanks and bilges can not be washed.
Article 28 –Ships can not carry out noisy work disturbing the silence like chipping, scraping or similar in the inner port, berths and wharves.
Loud music transmission with loudspeakers in the port can not be carried out except during entries and exits of ships.
Article 29 –Ships can not blow their whistles in the port unless necessary.
Article 30 -Not more than two craft side by side can be taken alongside to ships in anchor, berthed in the berths or wharves or moored by stern in the port.
Article 31 –Divers and skin divers shall obtain permission from the Harbour Master before diving in the port. Amateur divers can not dive in the inner port.
Article 32 –Masters, owners and agents of ships anchoring in the free anchorage area shall notify their anchorage positions to Harbour Master’s office as soon as possible.
Article 33 –Ships in the inner port shall be in a position to move maximum within 4 hours after the notification by the Harbour Master as necessary.
Article 34 –Ships berthing to berths and wharves, mooring by stern or anchoring outside the free anchorage area without the permission of the Harbour Master, in contrary to the provisions of these Regulations, and not obeying with orders to vacate their positions are taken out by assistance of pilots and tugboats ordered by Harbour Master and the expenditures resulting therefore are collected from them.
Ships staying in above mentioned positions with the permission of the Harbour Master are required to vacate their positions if ordered so by the Harbour Master. For ships not obeying with that orders, the provisions of above paragraph are applied.
Article 35 –Ships in the berths and wharves in the inner port can not engage with repair work that may prevent their shifting between berths as necessary.
Chapter Six : Health, Security and Customs Formalities
Article 36 –Health, security and customs controls of ships coming to port from foreign ports or by calling to foreign ports are carried out in the outer port. The uncompleted or undone controls of ships for imperative reasons in the outer port are carried out after ships berthing.
Article 37 –The health, security and customs controls of tourist and passenger ships and yachts and recreational craft coming to port may be carried out after their berthing or as necessary, ships may be met in the outer port and their controls may be continued and finished until their arrival and berthing in the inner port.
Article 38 –Ships calling to port for supplying necessities like bunkers, fresh water, provisions, stores and document exchange from agents or for sheltering for imperative reasons may stay in the anchorage areas in inner or outer port under the sanitary supervision of Shore Health Organization without taking free pratique for 48 hours.
Security and customs supervision of such ships are carried out from outside.
Ships wishing to stay in port more than 48 hours are required to take free pratique.
Article 39 –Shore Health, customs, port and security authorities may carry out necessary inspections in ships within the port as necessary and at all times of the day.
Article 40 –Masters of ships in the port are required to notify all kinds of diseases that may arise on board to Shore Health Organization immediately and in addition events like death and injury to security authorities.
Article 41 –Passengers and crew of ships departing to or arriving from foreign countries enter or exit from places in the berth, together with their belongings, as found suitable by the customs authority.
Article 42 -Persons sending passengers off cannot contact with passengers after customs and security checks and persons meeting passengers cannot contact them before such inspections.
Article 43 – Officials of security, customs, shore health and port management shall prepare a report about the action, upon witnessing actions in contrary to the provisions of these Regulations, and submit it to Harbour Master and a copy to their superiors.
Article44 -Inspections carried out for agricultural quarantine and animal health are subject to their special legislation.
Chapter Seven : Miscellaneous Provisions
Article 45 –Ship captains are required to notify the Harbour Master’s office about all marine accidents,engine breakdowns, ascertained unfavourable conditions that may harm the general safety of navigation and the crimes committed, happening inside or outside of territorial waters on in port, as soon as possible, first with a preliminary report within maximum 6 hours after arrival to port and with a detailed report including the opinions within 24 hours.
Shipmasters and seamen shall abide by the call made by port authorities and answer the questions to constitute a base for the investigation in these subjects.
Article 46 -Pilots inform Harbour Master immediately upon their return to port with a written report about the marine accidents happening in the ships they pilot, and other aspects they discovered on their course of duty, related to safety of navigation.
Article 47 -Owners or agents of foreign ships arriving to or departing from the port and Turkish ships sailing to foreign ports shall give their notifications containing necessary information twenty-four hours before arrival and departure of such ships to Harbour Master, security, customs and shores health authorities.
Owners or agents of Turkish ships of 300 GRT or above, running in the home range shall give the notifications containing necessary information at least 12 hours before arrival to port of such ships to Harbour Master.
Owners, masters or agents of Turkish ships less than 300 GRT shall notify the Harbour Master about arrival of such ship to port latest within 2 hours.
Provisions of Article 12 are reserved for ships carrying explosive, combustible, flammable and similar dangerous goods.
Article 48 –Ships carry out deratting in the place mutually determined by Harbour Master and Shore Health Organization.
Article 49 -During berthing of passenger and cargo ships to berths and wharves unauthorized persons, spectators or greeters can not occupy the berthing places, can not enter to ships before all passengers from berthing ships are discharged.
The involved authorities shall take the necessary security measures in this aspect.
Article 50 –Navigation within the port is subject to the provisions of “International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea”
Ships with or without engines and all other craft staying or sailing in the port shall carry the compulsory lights and shapes in accordance with the provisions of mentioned Regulations.
Article 51 –Loading and discharging of animals to and from ships are carried out in accordance with the provisions of “Regulations Regarding Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Merchant Ships”
Article 52 –Ships in incompliance with law, regulations or international conventions to which our country is a partor with necessary documents missing are not allowed to leave the port.
All kinds of merchant ships plying within the port limits are inspected in uncertain hours from time to time in a program determined by the Harbour Master. Ships found with conditions not complying with the provisions of law and regulations during the inspection are detained and legal action is taken for the masters and owners.
Article 53 -Ships in port shall at least have one each of the deck and engine crew keeping watch. Masters and owners of ships are responsible from non-execution of this obligation.
Article 54 –In the ships registered in the port of Samsun, ships name to the top and SAMSUN below in the aft and ship’s name to the bows on port and starboard side are to be marked.
Article 55 -Foreign ships at all tonnages and Turkish merchant ships of 5 GRT and bigger in the port are required to hoist their national flag from 08:00 hours in the morning until sunset.