Port administration in Georgia is defined by the Maritime Code: a seaport is a complex of port infrastructure with port units managing territory and aquatory, while state supervision of navigation safety is exercised by the agency's service — headed by the harbor master. This page explains that structure under Articles 70, 71, 76 and 86-1 of the Code.
The seaport and the port unit
Under Article 70, a seaport is a complex of port infrastructure located at a defined geographic place, which may contain one or more port units. The territory of a port unit covers the land area allocated to it, and the aquatory the sea area allocated to it. The unit ensures the readiness of its territory and aquatory for safe navigation.
Under the same article, the servicing of vessel traffic in Georgia's territorial sea and in every seaport is ensured by the agency through its structural unit, in accordance with the requirements of Chapter V of the 1974 International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, as amended by its 1988 Protocol; the rules for the operation and control of the vessel-traffic system are determined by a normative act of the agency's director.
The unit's relations with users and state services
Article 71 defines the unit's economic functions: it allocates to physical and legal persons, under the procedure established by legislation, separate plots of its territory, aquatory or berths, installations and equipment. At the same time, the unit provides the coast-guard department and the state customs, border-migration and sanitary services, as well as the agency's respective services, free of charge with appropriate space and creates normal working conditions.
A boundary is set as well: the unit may not impede the activity of an enterprise or organisation located in the port territory or interfere in their economic work, except in cases provided for by legislation; the enterprises and organisations, for their part, are obliged to observe the port rules. This balance activates economic freedom and order together on the port's territory.
The unit's circle of responsibility
Article 76 lists the directions for which the unit is responsible in ensuring compliance with navigation-safety and servicing norms: conditions for the safe standing of ships at berths; the soundness of hydraulic structures; the operation of communications and radio-navigation means; the soundness of navigation marks; the maintenance of design depths; observance of the port rules; cleanliness and environmental protection in the territory and aquatory.
Environmental and safety functions also belong to this circle: receiving oil-containing masses from ships; receiving and utilising sewage, garbage and other substances harmful to health and the environment; providing first aid to persons affected in a catastrophe; participating in search-and-rescue operations at sea and in the liquidation of emergency spills of oil and harmful substances. This list determines for what the unit may be held responsible.
The harbor master and supervision
Under Article 86-1, state supervision and control of navigation safety in a seaport's aquatory are exercised by the agency through its structural unit — the state supervision and control service of the port, headed by a harbor master appointed by the agency's director. A harbor master may be a citizen of Georgia with an education in the speciality of ship-master and the title of captain of a ship of more than 3000 tons gross capacity.
The agency's basic functions in this direction include exercising supervision and control, clearing the entry and exit of a ship — including fishing ships, regardless of flag state and form of ownership — in accordance with the approved port rules, and controlling the fulfilment by entering ships of the requirements established by Georgia's international treaties and legislation.
The ceiling of the retained fee is a compromise between the carrier's interest and the passenger's freedom: on late notice the carrier keeps a real expense, but not the whole fare. Observing the deadline is therefore the passenger's first concern: timely notice achieves a full refund, late notice a partial one.
The refund claim, too, is a document-based dispute: the ticket proves the amount paid, while the notice period is determined by the respective rules; fixing both circumstances is a precondition of the claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below we answer questions about port administration.
Who manages navigation in the port?
Vessel-traffic servicing is ensured by the agency; supervision of safety in the aquatory — by the harbor master's service.
To whom does the unit allocate plots?
To physical and legal persons under the statutory procedure; to state services — free of charge.
For what is the unit responsible?
Safe standing, structures and marks, depths, cleanliness and the environment, reception of masses from ships, and rescue operations.
Who may become harbor master?
A citizen of Georgia with a ship-master education and the title of captain of a ship of more than 3000 tons.
How We Help on Legal.ge
The Legal.ge team represents shipowners and port users in matters of port rules, allocation conditions and supervisory acts.
If your relations with the port administration have grown into a dispute, write to us on Legal.ge — we will assess the grounds under the Code and plan the position.