Cap-Haitien Port Regulatory Strengthening Project User Manual—Port Operations Regulation

The project is part of a broader effort to convert Haiti's National Port Authority (APN) from a direct provider of port services to a regulatory and planning body, known as a "landlord port." This transformation is in line with industry practice, as more than 95 percent of the world's large container ports and 80 percent of Latin American-Caribbean-region ports operate as landlord ports. The APN's regulatory role will involve developing guidelines and information for all port users, including terminal operators, on port operations, standards, procedures, and conduct on port premises. These rules and regulations will be made available to all on the port's website and reviewed by a technical committee to propose changes. The rules and regulations will be based on local and international rules, regulations, and laws, as well as international conventions, standards, and best practices. Port operations include waterfront areas for anchorage, berthing, navigation, and land-side activities such as equipment for goods transfer from shore to ship and vice versa, storage, and connection to the hinterland. Administrative formalities, including police, immigration, customs, health, waste disposal, harbor patrol services, and port state control, are also required for most of these activities. The main functions and features of a port include sea and land access, infrastructure for ship berthing, road and rail network, industrial area management, control of vehicles, environmental control, control of dangerous cargo, safety and security in the port area, immigration, health, customs, and commercial documentary control, pilotage, tugging, and mooring activities, use of berths and sheds, and loading, discharging, storage, and distribution of cargo. The Cap-Haitien Port, as shown in Figure 1, is a typical example of a port with various functions, including sea and land access, infrastructure for ship berthing, road and rail network, industrial area management, control of vehicles, environmental control, control of dangerous cargo, safety and security in the port area, immigration, health, customs, and commercial documentary control, pilotage, tugging, and mooring activities, use of berths and sheds, and loading, discharging, storage, and distribution of cargo. As a landlord port, the APN will develop guidelines and information for all port users on port operations, standards, procedures, and conduct on port premises, which will be made available to all on the port's website. The port operating regulations for landlord ports, including typical legal powers and responsibilities, are outlined in this volume. The regulations address operations, standards, procedures, conduct on port premises (marine and landside), and rules for the use of the port. The regulations are based on local and international rules, regulations, and laws, as well as international conventions, standards, and best practices. The APN will ensure regulatory consistency among Haiti's ports by following the procedures outlined in this volume.