Antti Pekanheimo
Chief Operating Officer
These Harbour Regulations complement the valid laws and other regulations, stipulations and license terms issued by virtue thereof, and valid agreements.
The provisions and instructions of the Harbour Regulations shall be observed in the areas and fairways administered by Port of Turku Ltd. The boundaries of the port and fairway areas are indicated on the maps attached to this document. In the aforementioned areas the port administrator is Port of Turku Ltd.
In addition, areas with restrictions on movement and sojourn in accordance with the Police Act and Decree are indicated on the map of these Harbour Regulations. The prohibition and the consequences resulting from violating it are expressed in the signs placed on the boundaries of the port area.
The Port will report all suspected crimes to the police.
The captain or representative of a vessel or other operator or provider operating the traffic shall give all information that is necessary for collecting the charges levied by the Port and promoting the safety of the Port or traffic.
A special authorisation from the Port is required for photography and video recording in the closed port area.
The companies and other providers operating in the port shall observe the instructions and safety regulations issued by the Port.
The companies and other providers operating in the port area shall appoint a contact person for safety issues. In addition, companies with long-term operating and leasing agreements are obliged to join the Port’s access control system in accordance with the Port’s instructions.
A person attempting to enter the closed port area shall on request present an identity card or access pass approved by the Port or, if they have neither, provide the information required for granting the right to move in the area. Any unauthorised persons loitering in the port area can be ordered to leave, if necessary with the help of the police, Customs, Border Guard authorities or security guards.
CE marked high-visibility clothing (EN 471) and other safety clothing determined by the Port shall be worn in the port area.
Everyone is obliged to give the Port the information that may impact the Port’s safety and port and seafaring safety as referred to in the ISPS Code.
When a vessel is berthed it shall inform the Port about any incoming and outgoing person and service traffic for access control and acquire permits in accordance with the Port’s instructions.
The companies and other providers operating in the port shall take into account the environmental permits valid at any given time and adapt their operations to their provisions. Furthermore, companies shall observe the separate stipulations issued on the basis of those permits.
The companies and other providers operating in the port area shall appoint a contact person for environmental issues.
Companies and other providers shall allow the Port to carry out necessary inspections required for the implementation and follow-up of environmental permits concerning the premises, machinery and equipment in the area covered by the environmental permit.
Companies and other providers shall give the Port free of charge any information necessary for complying with the Port’s permit terms and participate in the environmental surveys required by the permit terms as far as they concern the operations of the company in question in the port area. Companies and other providers shall give the Port copies of their own environmental and other similar permits.
Vessel waste management
The Port’s vessel waste instructions contain the Port’s valid waste management regulations, collection points and contact persons.
The captain of the vessel shall see to it that the Port’s vessel waste instructions are observed in the handling and sorting of waste.
Sanitation regulations for vessels and cargo handling
The captain of the vessel shall see to it that no substances or waste are emitted from the vessel to nature or the port structures that might contaminate them, and that the vessel’s operations do not cause unreasonable hindrance to other users of the port.
The captain of the vessel or owner of goods or other provider is obliged to inform the Port immediately about goods that have fallen into the water, or oil or other contaminating substances that have leaked into the water, and take immediate action to remove them.
Parties that carry out or commission goods handling in the port shall see to it that no unnecessary dirt or noise is generated. The goods handler and the commissioning party shall see to it that the waste, cargo residue, goods platforms and covers are taken to the place indicated for them and that any dirt is removed. Areas that have not been cleaned despite an exhortation shall be cleaned at the expense of the owner of the goods or the party that carried out the goods handling.
The Port may interrupt the handling of goods, if it causes dust that disturbs the environment, or noise or other similar adverse effect.
The operator, representative or captain of a vessel arriving in the Port shall give the advance notifications required by the Vessel Traffic Service Act to the PortNet information system. Other notifications (e.g. rail traffic) shall be given in the manner determined by the Port.
The schedules of regular passenger and cargo traffic and changes therein shall be negotiated and agreed on with the Port in good time.
Agreement on tugboats, waterbuses, fishing trawlers or other similar vessels (LNG bunkering barge etc.) operating in or from the port and used for commercial purposes shall be made with the Port before starting the operations.
An advance notification shall be given to the Port on dangerous goods 24 hours before bringing the batch of goods to the port area unless otherwise agreed. Dangerous goods refers to substances in accordance with the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code), the European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), and the regulations concerning the international carriage of dangerous goods by rail (RID).
When particularly dangerous goods or large volume of dangerous goods are transported, it shall be ensured in advance that the batch can be brought to the port area in the first place and on what terms (advance inquiry).
If a vessel is arriving from a locality infected with a contagious disease or if, in the course of the voyage, someone on board has fallen ill with a disease which is believed to be contagious or unknown, this fact must be reported to the appropriate authorities and the Port in good time and their instructions awaited before the vessel is allowed to enter the port.
If an animal has died or become seriously ill on board during the voyage, it must be reported to the Port to get instructions from the veterinary authorities.
The highest permitted speed or any other restrictions are indicated with water traffic signs. In addition, the speed of the vessels shall be adjusted as per situation in the water areas covered by the Harbour Regulations, so that it does not cause harm or danger to other users of the port, the Port or its equipment or structures, or the vessels themselves.
The principle in allocating berths shall be that vessels are entitled to obtain berths in the same order as they arrive in the port area. However, exceptions to this may be made by resolution of the port authorities or by special agreement by granting a certain vessel, shipping line or traffic service privileged access to a reserved berth.
A vessel must be moored in the place indicated by the port authorities and in the manner approved by them. The owner or person in charge of a vessel shall see to it that its mooring equipment is always in good condition. The captain of a vessel must, at any given time, be aware of the water depth of the berth at which his vessel is located.
When mooring a vessel alongside a quay and when casting off as well as while moored, due caution must be observed to prevent damage to the quay and the cranes and other equipment on it. The Port may order a vessel to use a pilot and tug when the vessel is moving in the port area and on the fairway.
The use of an anchor is prohibited on the quay side. While alongside the quay, the vessel must use adequate fenders.
Gangways and ships ladders must be fitted with handrails and protective netting and kept lit during the hours of darkness.
Davits, booms, cranes, ship ladders and other equipment beyond the sides of a vessel must be placed so that they do not obstruct the moving of cranes or vessel traffic on the seaward side of the vessel.
The screw of a vessel docked to a quay may only be used in low-speed testing while the vessel is preparing to depart, unless a different agreement has been reached with the port authorities.
Removing snow and ice from a vessel onto the quay is prohibited.
A vessel must be moved to another berth if so ordered by the Port. Each vessel in the port area which is not laid up shall have sufficient crew on board to permit its moving should the need to do so arise.
The Port’s permission must be obtained for placing a laid-up vessel or other structure in the port for a longer time.
The owner or representative of a laid-up vessel must entrust their servicing to a reliable person whose name and address shall be notified to the Port which may set conditions related to the matter.
In loading and unloading goods, care must be taken to ensure that neither the quay structures nor the equipment used for unloading or loading are damaged. When heavy cranes or other equipment are placed on the quay, their owner must obtain the Port’s assurance that the quay will bear the weight as well as their approval of the location chosen on separately determined terms.
Goods or units of transport may only be stored in the indicated areas, and in conjunction with loading or unloading they must not be placed in the way of quay side cranes, on the quay, traffic routes or the protective zones needed around them, in corridors, in front of warehouse doors, above fire hydrants, in front of lifesaving equipment nor anywhere else where they can obstruct their use or traffic or use of separate leased areas.
Stevedoring equipment and other machinery which is privately-owned and used in the port area must be furnished with the owner’s name or identifying mark, and in the case of machinery with an identifying number as well. Stevedoring equipment and machinery may not be left in the quay area after the work has been concluded, and they have to be kept in the areas reserved for that purpose.
If the presence of vermin or organisms or animals classified as such is detected in cargo, unloading must be interrupted immediately. The captain of the vessel shall be obliged to notify the matter to the appropriate authorities and the Port, and wait for their instructions before continuing the unloading.
Appropriate instructions must be followed when goods are stored in the port area. Any goods which owing to leakage, odour or other reason cause disturbance or damage must be immediately removed from the port area by the owner or handler of goods, and the area must be cleaned by them.
Dangerous goods in cargo
A precondition for the loading and unloading of dangerous goods is that they, with the exception of bulk goods, are furnished with the appropriate marks, such as those in accordance with the IMDG Code or that they have been packed in the manner prescribed in the said code, or otherwise appropriately.
If dangerous goods are not marked or packed in as described above, the Port can prohibit the unloading of the goods from the vessel or their bringing into the harbour area by land for loading, or take other necessary safety measures.
When dangerous bulk goods or liquids are being loaded or unloaded, the captain of the vessel or the person in charge of the goods is obliged to arrange at his expense adequate guarding and take any other security measures if so demanded by the Port. The company in charge of goods handling shall prevent the entry of unauthorised persons to the loading and unloading area.
Dangerous goods and waste may only be stored in warehouses, outdoor areas or tanks that have been appointed for that purpose and have appropriate permits.
Explosives and radioactive substances may only be stored in the port area if it is permitted by virtue of a law or decree and a permit has been granted on the basis thereof and the Port has approved the storage.
When liquid fuels are being unloaded or loaded in the oil harbour, the International Oil Tanker and Terminal Safety Guide (ISGOTT), the Port’s safety instructions for liquid fuels, and the terms of the other permits valid in the area shall be observed.
The principles of the Road Traffic Act shall be observed in traffic in the port area. The highest permitted speed of vehicles, parking spots and other traffic arrangements, such as permitted railway crossing points are indicated with traffic signs.
Parking in the port area is regulated with parking signs, and parking is only allowed in those areas. Otherwise the owner or person in charge of the car is liable for damages in case of an accident.
All vehicles must give way to trains and port equipment moving on rails. Other vehicles shall give way to machinery and cranes unless otherwise ordered by traffic signs. The driver of a vehicle stopped or parked on crane or railway tracks must not leave the vehicle unattended.
Work carried out near railway tracks, within the structure gauge, shall always be reported to the Port, and the safety instructions concerning rail traffic shall be observed.
Regulations on driving on ice-covered water areas with a motorised vehicle are given separately.
The Port shall not be responsible for any damage to vehicles or machinery.
The companies operating in the port area shall appoint a contact person for the management of safety issues and participate in the preparation of the risk evaluation and rescue plans for the area, purchasing of the necessary equipment, and exercises with the share proportioned to the risks involved in their own operations. The companies that handle dangerous chemicals shall also appoint a supervisor of operations as required by the Chemicals Act and notify the Port about the supervisor.
Marked fire routes in warehouses and on outdoor storage areas as well as access routes to fire hydrants, fire wells and fire-extinguishing hoses must be kept unobstructed for traffic at all times. Fire-fighting and rescue equipment as well as automatic fire alarm and sprinkler systems must be constantly kept in good condition and initial fire-fighting aids kept easily accessible.
If a vessel contains easily inflammable cargo, the use of naked flame, repair work that produces sparks and smoking are prohibited on its decks and external superstructures as well as on quays and the water areas in its vicinity.
The airing and cleaning of any of a vessel’s tanks which have contained inflammable or dangerous substances shall be prohibited unless the port authorities have granted their permission.
In the storage areas used for inflammable liquids and liquid containers, the use of naked flame, repair work that produces sparks and smoking are prohibited. The prohibition also applies to the water area within a 50-metre radius from the warehouses, quays and vessels in such area.
The crews of vessels in the port must participate in accordance to their ability in rescue operations and moving vessels from endangered locations, in accordance with the instructions given by the authorities and the Port.
Leisure boats or vessels need not make a notification on arrival in the port, unless specifically required by the Port. Boats referred to above may only be moored in berths reserved for them or indicated by the Port.
Leisure boats must avoid unnecessary traffic in the port area and always give way to merchant vessels.
When renting a berth, the owner of a boat shall give the port office the information on the boat or stored goods. If a vessel, boat or goods have been placed without permission or
otherwise against the Harbour Regulations or in a way that hinders traffic, and the captain, driver, owner or person in charge fails to move it, it may be removed by the Port at the expense of the party concerned.
The procedure with respect to such vessels, boats and goods taken in the possession of the Port whose owner is unknown or does not appear within three months shall be as is prescribed on lost and found goods.
Fishing in the closed port area on fairways, bridges, the harbour basin, quays or other comparable places is prohibited. Swimming is prohibited in the harbour basin and fairways.
A permission of the Port is required for all competitions arranged in the area or fairways administered by the Port.
If a vessel or boat has run aground in the port area, broken loose from its moorings or sunk, the vessel’s owner or the person in charge of it must remove it as soon as possible.
Shoaling the water area is prohibited. If the water area in the port is shoaled due to an accident or other reason, the port authority and navigation authorities shall be notified immediately. The grating of the port area will be carried out at the expense of the party that caused the damage.
If a sunken vessel or goods which have fallen into the water cause danger or disturbance to traffic, the owner or person in charge shall mark off the area with warning buoys. If this is not done, the Port shall mark off the area at the expense of the owner or person in charge.
If a quay or other port structure is damaged by a user of the port, the Port shall be informed thereof immediately. The Port shall arrange an assessment of said damages, to which the party who has caused the damage or their representative shall be summoned.
If a vessel, boat or goods have been placed without a permission or otherwise against the Harbour Regulations or in a manner that obstructs traffic, and the captain, driver, owner or person in charge of the vessel fails to take care of moving it, it can be removed by the Port at the expense of the party concerned, using official assistance if necessary.
If goods, machinery or vehicles are placed in the Port’s land area against orders, and the captain, driver, owner or person in charge fails to take care of moving it, it can be removed by the Port at the expense of the party concerned, using official assistance if necessary.
Due to infringement of the Harbour Regulations the Port may refuse the person guilty of the infringement the entry to the port area. In addition, the person guilty of the infringement shall be liable to compensate for any damage caused as well as associated costs.
Breaking the law or decree shall result in a punishment prescribed by the legislation.
Any complaints or claims for compensation addressed to the Port shall be presented without undue delay.
If a complaint is presented later than 30 days after the event or the time when the party that suffered the damage detected the event, the party that suffered the damage shall lose its right of action in the cases in which the party that suffered the damage is a business entity.
A claim against the Port shall be filed within one year from the date of the event or the date when the party that suffered the damage became aware of the event. Claims shall be handled in the District Court of Southwest Finland unless otherwise agreed.
The laws of Finland shall be applied in the litigation.
Maps are attached to these Harbour Regulations.
These Harbour Regulations have been verified by a decision of the Board of Directors of Port of Turku Ltd on 24 March 2015.
The Harbour Regulations enter into force as of 1 June 2015 and will be valid until further notice.
