Load Limits at South Harbor Piers

This Order applies to all piers and the Muelle de San Francisco Street of South Harbor.
The rules apply to pier decks and to specified areas within the piers, including the working apron and open storage areas.

The Order prescribes load limits for the reconstructed and unrehabilitated piers.
The Order protects pier decks from damage and premature deterioration caused by overload.
The Order ensures the safe and continued use of the piers for the efficient movement of cargoes.

“Load Limit” is the maximum load imposed on the pier decks of:
- 500 pounds per square foot (psf) or 2.44 tons per square meter (tsm) on rehabilitated piers; and
- 200 pounds per square foot (psf) or 0.98 tons per square meter (tsm) on unrehabilitated piers.
“Heavy Lift” means any general cargo, equipment or article with a gross weight of more than 30 tons, for purposes of this Order.
“Low-bed Trailer” means a multi-tyred transport used to carry heavy lift cargoes.
“Floating Crane Barge” means a water craft with a mounted derrick capable of loading and unloading heavy lift cargoes.
“Working Apron” is a 15 meter wide area from the ledge of the pier for vessel loading and unloading operations.
“Open Storage Area” is a space in the pier other than the working apron.

Rehabilitated piers have a pier deck load limit of 500 psf or 2.44 tons/sqm.
Unrehabilitated piers have a pier deck load limit of 200 psf or 0.98 tons/sqm.
The Order requires compliance with load limits to prevent damage and premature deterioration of the pier decks.

The Working Apron must be used strictly for loading/unloading operations.
During loading/unloading, temporary 1-high stacking of containers (loaded or empty) is allowed only when done using the ship’s gear or a traveling rail crane.
Heavy equipment weighing more than 25 tons is not allowed entry into the pier for stacking of loaded containers.
Discharging logs onto the pier is allowed only if A12" thick steel plates and/or 3–4 pieces of logs are laid out on the working apron to prevent damage to concrete curbs and pavement and to cushion the load impact.
After loading/unloading, the working apron must be cleared of all containers, cargoes, chassis, cargo handling equipment, and other load-bearing obstructions.

In open storage areas at Finger Piers, container and cargo stacking must follow these controls:
- Empty containers may be stacked at a maximum of 3-high at Piers 3, 5, 9, and 15.
- Loaded containers may not be stacked at the open storage areas of Piers 3, 5, 9, and 15.
- 2-high stacking only is permitted in the backreach zone of the traveling rail crane for reloading to the vessel or to trucks by the rail crane.
- Containers may not be stacked directly under the spreader of the traveling rail crane.
- Pier 13 open storage areas prohibit stacking of loaded and empty containers.
Storage of general cargoes is governed by deck-load limits:
- At open storage areas of Piers 5, 9, and 15, general cargo storage must not exceed 500 lbs./sq. ft. or 2.44 tons/sq.m.
- At open storage areas of the unrehabilitated Piers 3 and 13, the load limit must strictly be 200 lbs./sq. foot or 0.98 tons/sq.m.
- After rehabilitation of Piers 3 and 13, the 500 psf or 2.44 tons/sq.m. load limit applies there.
Storage of bulk cargoes, steel products, lumber and logs allowed for discharge unto the pier by the Authority must be temporary and subject to the prescribed load limits.
Allowable stacking height rules for certain commodities must comply with the conditions in the Annexes “A” and “B”.

Container and general cargo stacking at the Muelle de San Francisco Street (MDSF) is governed by a development condition:
- Unless authorized in writing by the Authority, stacking at the MDSF is not allowed once CY-01 is completely developed and becomes fully operational.

Handling of heavy lift cargoes (more than 30 tons) is generally prohibited.
Discharge of heavy lift cargoes is allowed only when all conditions are met:
- the discharge uses a multi-tyred low-bed trailer to effect even distribution of weight and to conform with the prescribed load limits;
- the operator secures prior approval from the Authority;
- after discharge, the trailer is driven to solid ground;
- the cargo is released only after documentary requirements have been complied with and clearance has been granted.
If the heavy lift cargo cannot be handled at the pier even with a multi-tyred low-bed trailer because the load limit would be exceeded, the cargo must be discharged shipside unto appropriate means of transport.
If the heavy lift cargo cannot be unloaded using the ship’s derrick, a floating crane is required to discharge the heavy lift cargo unto the pier, subject to the same conditions in paragraphs 5.4.1 and 5.4.2.

Non-compliance with any provision of this Order constitutes an administrative violation punishable under Section 43 of P.D. 857, as amended.
The offender is also liable for the cost of damage to facilities arising from the violation.
The cost of damage to facilities arising from non-compliance is borne by the party responsible.

All PPA issuances inconsistent with this Order are repealed or amended accordingly.
This Order takes effect fifteen (15) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.
The Order is adopted on 10 Oct. 1996 and signed by CARLOS L. AGUSTIN, General Manager.