Port Policies

• LCL Container Loading Regulations

• Taxi Application Form  (Requires Adobe PDF)

• Watersports Operators Policy/Procedure  (Requires Adobe PDF)

 

Port Regulations

• Port Authority Laws (Requires Adobe PDF)

• Port Authority Regulations (2003 Revision) (Requires Adobe PDF)

 

Coastal water Regulations

• Collision Rules

• Control Of Vessels

• General Rules of Navigation in Coastal area for all vessels

• Rules for Snorkelers and Divers

• Rules for Swimmers

 

Marine Conservation Law (Requires Adobe PDF)

 

Boating Safety

• File a Float Plan

• Carry Safety Equipment

• Make Sure Your Vessel is Seaworthy

• Fuel Management

• Radio Etiquette

 

Complaints Policy & Procedures (Requires Adobe PDF)

Current Fee Structure

 

 

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Port Policies

Guidelines for Handling Less than Container Load (LCL Units) - Nov 15, 2005

Loading of Less than Container Load (LCL Units)

When stuffing LCL containers the following requirements of the Port Authority of the Cayman Islands should be adhered to. These requirements are a guide line to facilitate the un-stuffing process to be completed efficiently with the lowest potential for damage to cargo. The safety of the Port Authority staff also has to be taken into consideration.

Background

The Port Authority reserves the right not to un-stuff any container that it deems unsafely packed. This will require the packing company or its agents to provide labor to do so at the Cargo Distribution Centre, but the Port Authority may assist with equipment and tallying of the unit. Units that are deemed difficult to un-stuff will be bumped to the back of the queue and an un-stuffing fee may be added.

Manifest, Stuffing Sheets, Bills of Lading, Southbound Loading Guide, North Bound Loading Guide must all be provided to The Port Authority 48 hours prior to the arrival of the vessel in Grand Cayman. Failure to provide these documents will result in the ship/container not being discharged/un-stuffed.

Please note that stuffing a container is generally easier than the un-stuffing. As a rule of thumb, if the stuffing takes a long time and is difficult, the un-stuffing will take twice as long with a higher level of difficulty due to cargo shifting. There is a very high volume of cargo being damaged due to shifting in the container and/or no attention being placed on what is loaded in front, side, back, top of other cargo. Better stuffing practices will help alleviate this costly situation.

LCL's are normally un-stuffed by the Port Authority using the “first come, first un-stuffed” rule. However, during periods of emergency operations as may be determined by the Board of Directors the Port Authority will continue to discharge LCL's in sequential order, but reserves the right to handle these containers as may be deemed appropriate.
 

Port Authority Requirements

• Containers are to be loaded with the goal of getting greater than 80% of the container palletized which in turn allows the forklift to do most of the unloading. There are certain items that can not be palletized thus allowing the remainder of the cargo to be placed loosely in the container. No cargo should be placed directly onto the floor of the container. All cargo should be resting on a pallet to prevent damage that could be caused by liquid spills.
• No cargo shall be placed in a container that requires it to be pulled out of the container. These items shall be loaded on a flat-rack. If the cargo has to be protected from the elements, it should be covered or loaded in a dedicated container.
• Bundles of PVC pipes are not to be placed in containers. These items often fall apart and require to be pulled out. This type of cargo can get wet and requires unloading from the side. With side unload, the cargo is balanced correctly on the forklift and the bundles stay together protecting the customer's cargo.
• Bundles of lumber, sheetrock, plywood, metal pipes, and steel rods are to be carried on flat-racks.
• Containers containing liquid (paint, food, chemicals, etc) must be palletized shrink-wrapped or strapped tight and on the bottom of the container. All effort to brace this type of cargo should be made. Caution should be used if containers of liquid require double stacking.
• Consignees that have multiple Dock Receipt numbers in the same unit should be combined as much as possible on the same pallet(s). All attempts should be made to keep the same consignees cargo together.
• Containerized cargo should be properly labeled with a barcode or easily identifiable markings to expedite the un-stuffing process and reduce errors.
• Fragile cargo should be properly labeled to ensure care is given to these items during the un-stuffing process.
• LCL containers containing Hazardous material should visibly display the HAZMAT sticker.
• Items such as glass, granite, marble or other fragile products that are placed on flat-racks should be properly packaged (crated) to allow these items to be properly unloaded.
• These guidelines may be subject to revisions from time to time. Revisions will be agreed and circulate to LCL importers prior to there implementation.

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Coastal Water Regulations

Collision Rules

Between Power Vessels

When two vessels are coming at each other head on, each steers to the starboard (right), so that they pass each other on the left. This is only necessary if it is a true collision course.

When two vessels are heading generally in the same direction, but on a collision course, the vessel on the left yields to the vessel on the right.

Between Power and Sail Vessels

Generally, it is the duty of the power vessel to keep out of the way of the vessel under sail. However, this does not give the sailing vessel the right to hamper the safe passage of a power vessel in a narrow channel if it can only navigate inside the channel.

Fishing Boats

International rules require that all vessels not engaged in fishing keep out of the way of fishing vessels. This does not give fishing vessels the right of obstructing a fairway. [New Port Regulations require that all vessels stay at least one hundred yards away from an anchored fishing boat flying a white flag.]

Common Sense

The International Rules note that regard must be had for all dangers of navigation and collision, and to any special circumstances including the limitations of craft involved, which may render departure from the rules necessary in order to avoid immediate danger.

Control of Vessels

It is the duty of any person having control over a power driven vessel to navigate it so as to avoid collision or injury to any other person or vessel in the area occupied by the vessel or disturbed by its wake. The vessel must be managed with due care and with regard to both the prevailing conditions and the likelihood of anyone being present or coming into the area occupied by the vessel or its wake. The master is as responsible for the effects of the vessel's wake as for the effects of the vessel itself.

When a dispute arises as to who is in control of a power driven vessel, every person aboard shall be presumed to be in control until he proves the contrary. No person under the age of fifteen may navigate or drive a power vessel unless under the control of a person over that age.

The person in control of any vessel must obey all lawful navigation orders made by the Port Director, or his designate.

 

General Rules of Navigation in Coastal area for all vessels

Designated Swim Areas

Beach Front properties may, with approval of the Port Authority, designate swim areas and mark them with the white buoys bearing an orange diamond and the words "swim area". No vessel may enter any such marked swim area, unless engaged is rescue operations or in an emergency, and unless the Master is satisfied that there is no danger to any swimmer.

Dive Areas

Dive areas may be marked by the Port Authority by red buoys with a white stripe, using the same symbol as the divers down flag. Within these areas, the same rules apply as applied when approaching any divers down flag or float. (See general rules below).

General Rules

No vessel shall exceed a speed of five knots when within two hundred (200) yards of shore or when within fifty (50) yards of any vessel at anchor.

No vessel may travel parallel to shore unless it is more than fifty (50) yards from shore, except in inland waterways. When speed should be adjusted so as to avoid any damage whatsoever from the vessel's wake.
[Note: This means that within fifty (50) yards of shore, you must travel perpendicular to shore at a speed of five (5) knots or less. Between fifty (50) and two hundred (200) yards, you may travel in any direction, but not exceed five (5) knots.]

Any vessel within two hundred (200) yards of a "divers down" flag or light, must slow to a speed of three (3) knots or less. A look-out must be at the bow for divers and swimmers, and if the flag or light is displayed from a vessel, make either visual or radio contact with the person acting as a look-out on the vessel.

No vessel may approach within one hundred (100) yard of an anchored fishing vessel which displays a white flag, unless the vessel being approached givers permission.

Rules For Dive Boats

The "divers down" flag to be displayed during the daylight hours is a red flag with a white diagonal bar. Although the white and blue "A" flag is also legally recognized in Cayman, the red and white flag is universally understood, and therefore much preferable. The divers down light, to be used at night, is three (3) lights, red over white over red, displayed vertically, 360 degree visibility and minimum visibility range of two hundred (200) yards.

You should always display a "divers down" flag or light when you have divers or snorkelers in the water.

No one may display a "divers down" flag or light unless actually engaged in diving or snorkeling operations.

There must be one person on board to act as a look-out when a vessel has divers or snorkelers in the water.

Dive boats wishing to dive the wreck of the Balboa in George Town Harbour must receive permission for the Port Security in advance.

No commercial vessel may dive in the Bloody Bay Marine Park in Little Cayman without prior permission from the Marine Conservation Board.

Traditional fishing area may be set aside as "No Dive Zone." Within those areas, diving and fishing from a commercial vessel are prohibited. At the present time, there are two such located off of North Side.

Rules For Ski Boats

There must be two people operating a ski boat: one at the wheel and the other acting as a lookout. The crew must keep constant watch to ensure that there is no danger to other vessels or swimmers and divers.

The ski boat must have clear water one hundred (100) yards ahead and fifty (50) yards to each side. The water must be totally free from swimmers and divers.

In designated Watersports Areas (of which there are eight (8) in Grand Cayman and one (1) in Cayman Brac), vessels may exceed a speed of five (5) knots near the shore. All other navigational rules, including the requirement that you not travel parallel to shore within fifty (50) yards, apply.

Outside the Watersports Area, ski boats must observe all navigational rules.

Anchoring Rules

Vessels may anchor within the Port Anchorage Area in George Town Harbour (which runs approximately from the north side of Eden Rock to Pageant Beach). Because of heavy traffic, this area is under constant control of the Port Authority. Permission is required before any vessel can anchor in the Port fairways, which is a band whose width is measured from the northern tip of Eden Rock shoal due north for two hundred (200) yards, and which runs from the shore to the drop-off.

Anchoring is prohibited in marked channels and turning basins.

All commercial vessels and private over twenty (20) feet in length are prohibited from anchoring in such a manner as to cause damage to coral by the anchor chain. These rules apply in all Cayman Waters.

Within all Marine Park Zones (outside of the Port Anchorage Area) vessels over sixty (60) feet in length are prohibited from anchoring.

At night, any vessel anchored in the Port Anchorage Area or moored more than two hundred (200) yards off shore must carry one white light visible for 360 degrees.
[Note: The Port Director has the power to permit anchoring a vessel anywhere in circumstances which he determines to be an emergency.]

Use of Public Moorings

Public moorings, located on dive sites and intended to protect the most popular dive sites from anchor damage, are located around all three (3) islands. They are marked with white mooring buoys with a blue stripe. Those with a buoy 18 inches in diameter are safe for vessels up to 60 feet long, and those with the large buoys of 30 inches diameter are meant for vessels above 60 feet long. Local rules of courtesy require that these moorings be used for only an hour or two by any single vessel.

Safety Equipment

For jet-ski and sail boats, each person is required to wear a life vest, and sailboats must carry a pocket mirror.

 

Vessel Size	8' – 20'	20' – 40'	Over 40'
Live preserver/ buoyant vest	.	One for each person on board	.
Oars & row locks or paddles	Yes	~	~
Life buoy	~	One	Two
Bailer or manual bilge pump	Either	Either	Pump only
Anchor with ? feet of rope	50 Feet	75 Feet	100 Feet
Sound signaling apparatus	~	Yes	Yes
Hand help flares	One	Three	Three
Pocket mirror	Yes	Yes	~
Waterproof flash/ light or one hand held flare and two parachute flares	Light	Either	~
Parachute flares	~	~	Three
Orange smoke signal	~	~	One

Rules for Snorkelers and Divers

All divers and snorkelers must have a divers down flag or light or a white float or marker which is visible from two hundred (200) yards if they are diving anywhere outside of a designated swim area which is demarcated with buoys. This is a new rule – you must have a float or flag even within the two hundred (200) yard limit.

Diving and snorkeling is prohibited in navigational channels.

 

Rules for Swimmers

Shore-based swimmers must stay within two hundred (200) yard from shore, except that they may go beyond that limit during daylight hours if they display a white float or divers down flag. Swimmers should exercise caution when outside of designated swim areas, and should be aware of boats in the area. A float or divers down flag is recommended for swimmers in areas of heavy boat traffic.

Swimming is prohibited in navigational channels.

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Boating Safety

File a Float Plan

Whenever you are out in a boat, you should leave information with someone regarding where you are going, a description of your boat and the route you expect to take, a description of your car and where you plan to leave it, who is with you and what time you expect to return.

You can pick up forms at the Port Authority or just leave the information with someone who can alert authorities if you don't return on time. Be sure to let the person know when you do return!

 

Carry Safety Equipment

The safety equipment required by the Port Regulations is the minimum gear you need for safety. Be sure you have what's required and that it is dry and in working order. You should also have fresh water.

 

Make Sure Your Vessel is Seaworthy

Be sure that there are no fuel leaks, fuel spilled during loading and that your equipment is free of excessive corrosion.

Your boat should be free of fire hazards and in good overall condition with reasonably clean bilge and the full and superstructure sound.

Keep your boat tidy: properly secure and stow all equipment and supplies; keep deck and spaces clean and free of clutter and trash; perform regular safety checks and necessary maintenance.

Carry tools and spare parts and learn how to make minor repairs.

Know your equipment.

 

Fuel Management

Use the "One-Third Rule" in fuel management: Use one-third of the fuel to get there, one-third to get back and keep one-third in reserve.

 

Radio Etiquette

The general rules for using the radio are:

• Stand by on Channel 16.
• Switch to another channel for conversation.
• When trying to establish contact, call once. If not answered, wait three minutes before calling again.
• Port security can be contacted at any time on V.H.F. Channel 16.

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