Cargo and Handling

The Ports Authority of the Velocity Interoperability Network handles every class of cargo that passes through the ports of the Network: containers at Southbank and Meridian Basin, dry and liquid bulk at Northgate, break-bulk and project cargo at the Southbank General Cargo Terminal, roll-on roll-off cargo at Southbank and Meridian Basin, and the general cargo of coastal and inland craft at Westbrook Wharf. Cargo is received, discharged, loaded, stored and released by the Authority's own staff under a single set of handling rules that applies at every terminal.

The rules and the procedure for shipping agents set out on this page take effect on Monday 7 September 2026 and replace the interim arrangements under which the ports operated during the transition period. They were announced in the Newsroom on 6 September 2026.

Throughput. The figures below record the cargo handled at the four ports during the transition period from 10 August to 5 September 2026, under the interim arrangements. The full release, including throughput by terminal and vessel calls by type, is set out on the Statistics page.

186
Vessel calls at the four ports, 10 August to 5 September 2026: 41,300
Twenty-foot equivalent units of containers handled: 612,000
Tonnes of dry and liquid bulk cargo handled: 94%
Import containers released at the gate within 48 hours of discharge

Handling rules. The rules below apply to all cargo at all terminals of the Authority. Where a terminal cannot accept a class of cargo, the rule says so. Breach of a rule may result in cargo being held, in a surcharge under the schedule of port charges, or in the cargo being refused.

Declaration of cargo: Every consignment must be declared on the cargo manifest submitted before the vessel arrives. Cargo found on board that is not on the manifest is held by the Authority until it is declared and cleared, and a handling surcharge applies.
Verified gross mass: Every packed container must be weighed and its verified gross mass declared to the Authority before it is loaded. A container without a verified gross mass is not loaded and is held on the quay at the shipper's expense until one is supplied. The Authority's weighbridges at Southbank and Meridian Basin may be used at the published charge.
Dangerous goods: Dangerous goods must be declared 48 hours before the vessel arrives, with their class, identification number, quantity and stowage. They are stored in the segregated areas at the Southbank Container Terminal and the Northgate terminals only. No dangerous goods are accepted at the Southbank Ferry Terminal or Westbrook Wharf, and only limited quantities at Meridian Basin.
Refrigerated containers: A refrigerated container is connected to a reefer point within one hour of discharge and its temperature is checked and recorded every four hours while on the quay. The Southbank Container Terminal has 240 reefer points and Meridian Basin 48. Export reefers are received no earlier than 48 hours before the vessel's loading window.
Out-of-gauge and project cargo: Cargo that exceeds container dimensions, and heavy lifts, are handled at the Southbank General Cargo Terminal by prior arrangement. A lifting plan approved by the terminal is required for any lift over 100 tonnes, and lifts over 60 tonnes at Meridian Basin or Westbrook Wharf must use the vessel's own gear or a crane hired for the purpose.
Storage and dwell time: Import containers may remain on the quay for five days after discharge without charge, and export containers for seven days before loading; quay rent applies thereafter. Break-bulk cargo has a free period of five days. Cargo remaining after 30 days may be removed to the Authority's store at the owner's expense, and after 90 days may be disposed of under the Authority's rules.
Empty containers: Empty containers are returned to the depot named by the carrier and are not stored on the quay for longer than 48 hours. Empties for loading are received no earlier than 72 hours before the vessel's loading window.
Perishable goods and live animals: Perishable goods not carried in refrigerated containers must be discharged and cleared within 24 hours. Live animals are accepted only at the Southbank General Cargo Terminal, by prior arrangement, and are inspected on arrival before discharge.
Bulk cargo: Dry bulk is discharged by the Authority's grab unloaders to the Northgate silos or directly to road vehicles under dust suppression; spillage on the quay is cleared before the vessel sails. Liquid bulk is transferred through the jetty pipelines only, and the shore tanks are nominated before the vessel berths.
Damage, shortage and loss: Damage to or shortage of cargo must be reported to the terminal office before the vessel sails or, for import cargo already discharged, before it leaves the gate. The Authority's tally is conclusive unless it is contested in writing within 48 hours of the vessel's departure.

Procedure for shipping agents. Every vessel calling at a port of the Network must be represented by a shipping agent registered with the Authority. The steps below apply to every call. Sixty-three agents were registered at establishment; a vessel whose owner wishes to act as its own agent registers in the same way.

Step 1: Register with the Authority
A shipping agent must be registered with the Authority before it can give notice of a vessel or book handling. Write to the Authority with the name of the agency, the names of the persons authorised to act for it and the terminals at which it intends to work. Registration is confirmed by email within five working days and entered in the register of agents.
Step 2: Give notice of arrival
Give notice of an arriving vessel at least 72 hours before its expected arrival, or 24 hours for a coastal voyage of less than 24 hours. The notice states the vessel's particulars, its expected time of arrival, the cargo to be discharged and loaded, any dangerous goods, and the number of crew and passengers on board.
Step 3: Submit the cargo manifest
Submit the cargo manifest for discharge at least 24 hours before arrival, and the loading list at least 24 hours before the vessel's loading window. For a coastal voyage the manifest is submitted before the vessel leaves its previous port. Every consignment must carry a verified gross mass where it is containerised.
Step 4: Request a berth and handling window
Berths are allocated by the harbour master in the order in which notice is received, having regard to the cargo, the vessel's dimensions and the terminal's equipment. The berth and the handling window are confirmed by email, normally within one working day of the notice.
Step 5: Declare dangerous goods
Declare any dangerous goods at least 48 hours before arrival, with their class, identification number, quantity and stowage. The declaration is checked by the terminal against the segregation rules before the berth is confirmed.
Step 6: Arrange pilotage and towage
Confirm the pilot boarding time with the harbour master at least six hours before arrival. Tugs are ordered by the harbour master according to the vessel's length and the conditions at the time; the requirements by vessel length are set out on the Vessel Arrivals and Berthing page.
Step 7: Attend cargo operations
The agent or a representative must be available to the terminal throughout cargo operations. Discrepancies between the manifest and the Authority's tally are raised with the agent as they arise and must be settled before the vessel sails.
Step 8: Settle the charges
Port dues, pilotage, towage and handling charges are invoiced to the agent within three working days of the vessel's departure and are payable within 30 days. Import cargo is released at the gate once it has been cleared by the Customs Service and any storage charges have been paid.

The schedule of port dues, handling, storage and other charges is set out on the Port Charges page, and the requirements for notice of arrival, pilotage and towage on the Vessel Arrivals and Berthing page. The equipment and operating hours of each terminal are set out on the Terminals page.

Enquiries about the handling rules, requests to register as an agent and reports of damage or shortage may be sent to contact@ports.gov.vin. For answers to common questions, see the frequently asked questions.