Decree No. 40/2024 approving the Regulation for the Exercise of Ship Agency, Cargo and Complementary Services.

This Decree approves the Regulation for the Exercise of Ship Agency, Cargo and Complementary Services. In particular, it applies to the exercise of the following activities: a) ship agency; b) freight forwarding; and c) complementary services. All foreign-flagged vessels that call on national ports must set up a shipping agent. Foreign-flagged vessels, chartered to national shipowners, may be exempt from the appointment of agents, as long as the country's social or economic interests justify it, and shipowners must have a charter authorization from the licensing entity. The shipowner's representative, is responsible for the following: a) formalities for entry, stay, maneuvers and departure of the ship with public and private institutions that deal with maritime and port matters; b) crew change; c) fuel supply to ships and bunkering; d) docking and undocking requests; e) legal provisions at ports; f) making vessel available for inspection within the Port State Control; g) payment of expenses for services provided to ships and due compensation; h) payment of navigation aid fees; i) rental of vessels to assist ships under its agency; j) presentation of the cargo plan on board; and k) damage caused to piers and their equipment to maritime signaling buoys and other equipment, caused by vessels, platforms and the like that demand a national port.