All invoices are due and payable thirty (30) days after the invoice date. Any invoice remaining unpaid thirty (30) days after the invoice date will be considered delinquent, and after thirty (30) days will be assessed an interest charge of one and one-half percent (1.5%) per month, for as long as the invoice remains delinquent. Failure to pay within this time limit may also cause the suspension of credit privileges to be imposed, as well as placing the delinquent party on a delinquent list, conditions of which are defined in Rule 34-040 of the schedule. Continued failure to comply with the terms set forth herein may result in legal action. Any charge considered in dispute by the Customer  (the party which has been invoiced) and the Authority will not be assessed an interest penalty, provided that material errors or discrepancies on an invoice have been specifically reported in writing to the Authority’s Credit and Collections Department within thirty (30) days after receipt thereof. If the written dispute is not received within thirty (30) days, the invoice shall be considered valid and payable. At no time shall invoices be reduced by any monetary amount for loss and/or damage believed to have been caused by the Authority. See Rule 34-126 for information on how claims for loss and/or damage are to be settled. When an invoice is in dispute, any portion which is not part of the dispute shall be paid within the 30 day period. Also, the Authority will only negotiate disputed invoices with the bill-to-party.

At no time shall invoices be reduced by any monetary amount for loss and/or damage believed to have been caused by the Authority. See Rule 34-126 for information on how claims for loss and/or damage are to be settled.

VESSEL CHARGES

On all vessels calling at the Authority’s terminals, the agents shall be responsible for the payment of all dockage and related charges, including wharfage. The Authority reserves the right to hold vessels, their owners, and/or agents who load, process or discharge cargo at its terminals liable for payment of all terminal charges on such shipments which have accrued, and any charges for the removal of such cargo to another part of the terminal, storage elsewhere, or other applicable charges (See Note 1). Charges that are normally assessed to the vessel or its agents, as provided for in this schedule, will not be assessed to any other party without prior approval of the Authority.

HANDLING AND STORAGE CHARGES

When import breakbulk cargo is discharged at the terminals operated by the Authority in the Ports of Brunswick and Savannah, the handling charges will be invoiced to the bill-to party indicated on the delivery order. (Note 2) This same party will be responsible for any storage charges incurred. If the cargo delivery order has not been created in NAVIS by the time the first storage period ends, the party shown as the shipper on the bill of lading will be the responsible bill-to-party, provided they have established credit with the Authority. If this party has not established credit, responsibility remains with the vessel or its agents until the responsible party has established credit with the Authority or other acceptable payment terms have been arranged. Cargo will not be allowed to leave the Authority’s terminals until payment terms have been satisfied.

When export breakbulk cargo is received at the terminals operated by the Authority in the Ports of Brunswick and Savannah, the handling charges will be invoiced to the bill-to party indicated on the dock receipt (Note 2). This same party will be responsible for any storage charges incurred. The dock receipt will be the governing document as to the description and weight of the export cargo.

PAYMENT OF CHARGES AND INVOICES

Bill-to parties must have established credit with the Authority or made otherwise satisfactory arrangements for payment with the Authority. For accounts, which have not established credit with the Authority, charges must be prepaid. Cash transactions are not acceptable. If the bill-to-party is not identified or if satisfactory payment arrangements have not been made, cargo will be placed on HOLD.

TRANSSHIPPED CARGO

On breakbulk cargo, which has been discharged at ports, other than the Ports of Brunswick and Savannah, and then transshipped to Authority facilities by rail or motor carrier, the ocean carrier which discharged the cargo will be responsible for the handling charges for the initial receipt, and the first month’s storage, if any. Any additional charges shall become the responsibility of the bill-to party indicated on the delivery order, provided the said party has established credit with the Authority. If the said party does not have credit, the ocean carrier will continue to be responsible until the cargo account establishes credit.

MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES

Other terminal charges such as, but not limited to, segregation, labeling, marking, weighing, etc., will be the responsibility of the same party that is invoiced for the handling charges unless otherwise agreed to by the Authority.

Note 1: Georgia Ports Authority does not hold vessels, their owners, operators, or agents responsible for payment of handling or storage charges on breakbulk cargo discharged at Authority terminals. However, if the owner, operator, or any agent of a vessel directs the Authority to bill such charges to the owner, operator, or agent of the vessel discharging the cargo, then the owner, operator, and all agents of the owner or operator shall be responsible for payment of such charges.

Note 2: If the person preparing the delivery order on import cargo or the dock receipt on export cargo places an incorrect bill-to party on the order, then that person and its company shall be responsible for getting the charges paid as the Authority will not cancel and re-bill.

For additional information regarding containerized cargo, see Rule 34-490 of this schedule.