---
title: "Port Operations"
url: "https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/port-operations-en"
field: "International Law"
description: "Port operations under the Maritime Code: the harbour unit, ship detention, pilotage services and port rules, explained by Legal.ge."
reviewed: "2026-07-09"
updated: "2026-10-23"
publisher: "legal.ge"
---

# Port Operations

> Source: legal.ge, https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/port-operations-en

## The Port Unit and Safe Navigation

The harbour unit is responsible for ensuring safe navigation within the waters of a seaport. Its duties include creating appropriate conditions for pilotage operations to be conducted safely, carrying out measures under the approved plan for the removal of sunken property, organising search and rescue operations to save persons and vessels in danger, and mobilising all resources within the harbour unit for eliminating emergency spills of oil and hazardous substances.

The harbour unit also ensures that the storage of dangerous cargo and cargo handling operations are carried out in the prescribed manner. In performing these functions it must observe Georgia's international treaties, the Maritime Code, other legislative and sub-legislative normative acts, the applicable technical regulations, the port rules and the written requirements of the Agency — so that order in the port rests on a single legal foundation rather than on ad hoc decisions.

The full text is available on legal.ge after signing in: https://legal.ge/en/service/international-law-en/port-operations-en

### Who is responsible for safe navigation in the port?

The harbour unit, which ensures pilotage conditions, wreck removal, rescue operations and environmental response.

### How long can a ship be detained?

The captain's order operates for 3 days and nights; absent a court decision within that term, the ship is released immediately.

### Who performs pilotage?

Only an Agency-certified marine pilot; the pilotage service is certified for a term of 5 years.

### What happens when order requirements are violated?

Violations of navigation safety and port order requirements attract administrative liability under Georgian legislation.