Port Clearance
Port clearance is the set of customs, immigration, health and port-authority formalities a vessel must complete to enter (inward clearance) and leave (outward clearance) a port. Handled by the ship's agent, it covers submitting the arrival and departure declarations, crew and passenger lists, cargo manifests, stores and ballast declarations, and settling port dues — the paperwork that makes a call legal.
Inward clearance, together with free pratique, makes the vessel legally ready to work cargo; outward clearance (the "port clearance certificate") is the authority's permission to sail. Because clearance gates both the start of operations and departure, delays in it directly affect the vessel's time in port — and the agent's job is to have every document lodged so neither is held up.
Port clearance is the legal permission to work cargo and to sail. If inward clearance lags, operations can't start; if outward clearance lags, the ship can't leave. Efficient agency clearance work is what keeps a port call from stalling on paperwork.
clearance
operations
clearance & sail
What is the difference between inward and outward clearance?
Inward clearance is the formality of legally entering a port and being permitted to work cargo; outward clearance is the port authority's permission for the vessel to sail.
Who handles port clearance?
The ship's agent, by lodging arrival/departure declarations, crew and cargo lists, stores and ballast declarations, and settling port dues.