Rule
5-081
Schedule
829580
Subject
Application for Berth
Effective
October 1, 2026
Issued
October 1, 2026
To apply for a berth at either Garden City Terminal or Ocean Terminal, contact GPA’s Savannah Ship Operations Department:
Phone: 912-964-3960
Email: [email protected]
To apply for a berth at any Brunswick Terminal, contact GPA’s Brunswick Ship Operations Department:
Phone: 912-280-1561
Email: [email protected]
Application for berth must be at least seven (7) calendar days prior to expected vessel arrival date.
The following documents are also required to be submitted to GPA’s Ship Operations Department:
| DOCUMENT | RESPONSIBILITY | DEADLINE |
|
Vessel Manifest specifying the type and quantity of cargo |
Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent | At least seven (7) days prior to vessel arrival |
|
Vessel Load Orders |
Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent | Within five (5) days of vessel departure date |
|
Vessel Tonnage Report |
Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent |
Within five (5) days after the vessel’s departure |
The Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent is required to submit the vessel manifest at least seven (7) calendar days prior to vessel arrival and specify the type and quantity of the cargo.
The Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent is required to submit the vessel load orders within five (5) consecutive days of vessel departure.
Any Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent which provides GPA with an official vessel tonnage report for billing purposes is required to submit these documents, for both export and import vessels, within five (5) consecutive days after the vessel’s departure.
Failure to provide the required information within the specified time will result in a fine of $775.32, per incident and denial of the Ocean Carrier’s berthing assignments for succeeding vessels until in compliance. All charges must be paid promptly upon presentation of an invoice and all MTOS rules and regulations must be followed. Additionally, the Ocean Carrier or Shipping Agent is required to provide GPA’s Port Police Department via email: [email protected] with the names of third-party vendors who will need vessel access.
Berth allocation and assignments shall be at the discretion of GPA. Vessels under the United States Coast Guard Captain of The Port Order (COTP) or Letter of Deviation (LOD) must notify the Ship Operations Department immediately, in writing, of the COTP or LOD requirements. GPA will determine berthing prospects after reviewing the COTP or LOD requirements; however, GPA may delay the vessel from entering GPA’s berth or require it to vacate the berth immediately at the vessel owner/operator’s expense, should the COTP or LOD delay other vessels from berthing. Failure to vacate berth, if so ordered, or failure to notify GPA of a vessel order under United States Coast Guard COTP or LOD will result in charges pursuant to MTOS Rule 5-085. Furthermore, a vessel under COTP or LOD order will not be granted idle dockage.