Manuel d’utilisation— LES RÈGLES ET RÈGLEMENTS D'EXPLOITATION PORTUAIRE

The port's capacity and productivity are determined by its weakest link. Due to the international nature of external trade and maritime activity, ports must be regulated to comply with international maritime and environmental regulations, as well as customs and commercial conventions. The operations of the Port of Cap-Haïtien include maritime and terrestrial zones for mooring, docking, and navigation, as well as the transfer of goods from the quay to the ship and vice versa, storage, and connection with hinterland regions. Most of these activities require administrative formalities, including police, immigration, customs, health, waste disposal, port patrol services, and port state control. The main functions and characteristics of a port include access to the sea and land, infrastructure for docking ships, road and rail networks, management of industrial zones, control of vehicles entering and leaving the port, environmental control, control of hazardous cargo, safety and security in the port area, immigration, health, customs, and commercial documentation control, pilotage, towing, and mooring activities, use of mooring posts and warehouses, and loading, unloading, storage, and distribution of cargo. The functions of the Port of Cap-Haïtien vary from those of other ports. Figure 1 illustrates the port's functions. In its capacity as a port owner, the Port Authority develops guidelines and information for all port users, including terminal operators, on port operations, standards, procedures, and conduct in port facilities. These rules and regulations are made available to all on the port's website. A technical committee typically reviews the guidelines and proposes modifications. The rules and regulations are based on local and international regulations, conventions, standards, and best practices. Different ports emphasize different aspects of port operations in their guidelines. The port's regulations of operation should complement national legislation, laws, and regulations, and provide useful information and guidance to port users on procedures and code of conduct to be observed in the port, and explain the statutory and legal powers of the port authority. The regulation should apply to all port areas and be mandatory for anyone operating or using port facilities. The regulations should be published on the port's website and updated as regulations change. The Port of Cap-Haïtien is undergoing a transformation from a direct service provider to a regulatory and planning body, increasing its efficiency and helping the country to adopt standard practices in the sector. Over 95% of the world's major container ports and 80% of ports in Latin America and the Caribbean are port owner-operators. The USAID project to strengthen the regulation of the Port of Cap-Haïtien aims to support Haiti in preparing to assume its regulatory role. Part of this support is provided in the form of four guides: * A guide to tracking port performance * A guide to analyzing port tariff administration * A guide and annotated models on port service contracts * A guide and annotated model on port operation regulations Each guide is prepared in two versions: a learner's version and an instructor's version. It provides general information on best practices and prescribes the frameworks governing the current regulatory function. It also describes the procedures that the Port Authority and individual ports should follow to ensure consistency in regulation among Haitian ports.