Ships waiting

Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 12:11 pm Post subject: Ships waiting

Is there a reason why ships sit out at the Sunk when they have a ready berth? Cosco Kaohsiung is out there and not due in for some hours although its destination Berths 8 & 9 are free. The pilot has been out there to serve other ships - so is it a lack of pilots or are ships charged for the amount of time they are in port? From an observer's point of view it seems inefficient.



It would be good to know some figures. The cost of tugs, pilots, berthing, lying alongside, anchoring at various places, and how these costs vary with time, i.e., booked or contracted in advance, on demand, time and day of week, and so on. Doubtless all very commercially sensitive - but surely available to those that have to pay!



My experience of many years ago may or may not be relevant today. I was talking to a man of knowledge and he said that all ships alongside were liable to "demurrage" charges which were assessed on various parameters, but it was certain that a ship outside a harbour was not losing money at the same rate as one inside. What anchorage charges might be raised would, I imagine, be raised on the same sort of parameters as "demurrage".
I think you are correct, fhrg, about it being cheaper to be at sea than in harbour. But I think that demurrage is about delay, and typically applies to goods (including containers?) staying longer than planned at a port. I don't think it applies to a delayed ship, as other charges probably apply. However, others here will know a more precise definition. I still think it would be interesting to know some actual costs of port working, as outlined earlier - and not necessarily those of Harwich/Felixstowe.

Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 5:04 pm Post subject: There are several reasons why vessels wait at anchor when berths are free. If she is deep draft, she may be waiting for a rise of tide to give her sufficient underkeel clearance. If the ship arrives on a falling tide, there could be a delay of up to 8 hours waiting for the water. Not sure if there are penalties if the ship berths earlier than booked. Labour has to be booked for a certain time and vessels usually berth just in time for the labour. Maersk Line vessels usually arrive at the sunk pilot station at 0430 so they are all fast alongside and ready for the new shift coming on at 0700.

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