Question & AnswerQ&A (PPA MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 03-95)
It covers vessels and cargoes that call or are discharged at government/private ports or anchorage areas within the jurisdiction of the Philippine Ports Authority pursuant to PD 857 as amended.
Dockage at Berth is the amount assessed against a vessel engaged in international or foreign trade for mooring or berthing at a pier, wharf, bulkhead, or similar facilities at any national port in the Philippines.
The owner, agent, operator, or master of the vessel is liable to pay dockage fees.
The free storage period for imported cargoes is six (6) calendar days starting immediately after the day the last item of cargo is discharged from the carrying vessel.
If the vessel is waiting at anchorage due to strikes, natural calamities, or pier congestion and no loading or unloading operations are undertaken during that period.
They shall be assessed three hundred percent (300%) of applicable dockage fees for foreign vessels and five hundred percent (500%) of usage fees for domestic vessels. If subject to a court restraining order, the charges increase to six hundred percent (600%) and one thousand percent (1000%) respectively.
A container is generally defined as having an internal volume or capacity of not less than one (1) cubic meter.
They are charged fifty percent (50%) of the wharfage rate prevailing in government ports.
The vessel must be authorized by the Authority to temporarily lay-up and anchor at the designated places, supported by a certificate of decommission from MARINA and a certificate under oath stating that the vessel will not be used for dwelling or undergo repairs while berthed.
No, they are charged only one-half (1/2) of the usage fee applicable at government ports.