Section 34: Authority and Director-General to regulate certain activities.

(1) The Authority may issue guidelines for the purposes of regulating the following matters and activities, namely:---

(a) the vessel movement and safety of navigation, including determining the schedules and procedural protocols for vessel entry, departure, and transit within port limits;

(b) assigning the berths, including designating specific berths, stations, and areas for vessel docking in the port;

(c) the anchor and equipment management, focusing on the correct stowage and positioning of cargo gear, anchors, and other external apparatus on vessels;

(d) the cargo and passenger operations, including regulating locations and methods for passenger embarkation and loading and unloading of cargo;

(e) standards for bunkering practices and equipment for vessel fueling operations;

(f) specifying the requirements for the clear passage to ensure designated safe passage areas are maintained near docking structures and within port limits;

(g) standards and procedure for mooring and anchoring of vessels and related equipment;

(h) specifying the access and usage protocols for Government-owned docking and storage facilities;

(i) standards and procedures for licensing various maritime transport vessels and the conditions for licence renewal or revocation;

(j) specifying protocols for the consistent and safe use of visual and signal aids by vessels and ports;

(k) standards relating to occupational health, safety and security of dock workers, seafarers and port visitors; and

(l) the protocols to ensure seafarer and port workers' welfare-related resources and activities.

(2) The Director-General may also issue such guidelines on any of the matters and activities specified in sub-section (1), as may be deemed necessary, from time to time.

(3) Any guidelines issued by the Authority under sub-section (1), shall be in conformity with the guidelines issued by the Director-General under sub-section (2).

Explanation.---For the purposes of this section, "Director-General" means the Director-General appointed under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958 (44 of 1958).