2.1 ADMINISTRATION

"C. Steinweg Oman LLC holds the concession and operates as stevedoring and cargo handling company in the Port of Sohar up to 2027 (hereinafter referred to as ""the Terminal Operating Company""). The concession has been granted by Sohar Industrial Port Company SAOC, hereinafter referred to as "the Port Authority"."

2.2 JURISDICTION

C. Steinweg Oman LLC has been operational in Sohar since April 2004. The company offers stevedoring, shore handling, warehousing and other cargo relating services for all bulk -and break bulk cargoes.

2.3 USE OF FACILITIES

2.3.1. The Terminal Operating Company, reserves the right to designate and regulate the use of all facilities on the Terminal.

2.3.2. The Terminal Operating Company, reserves the right to handle and/or accept any and all cargo as per the SIP Rules and Regulations.

2.3.3. The Terminal Operating Company, prohibits the placing and/or use within the Terminal of any mechanical equipment not owned by the Terminal Operating Company, except with prior written permission and payment in advance of such charges as may be stipulated. It will be the sole responsibility and liability of the user for any injury to persons or damage of whatever nature, including damage to property of the Terminal Operating Company. All such plant and equipment brought on the Terminal should be fully covered for third party liability under owner's insurance policy.

2.4 APPLICATION AND INTERPRETATION OF TARIFF

Rates, rules and regulations contained in this tariff shall apply unless otherwise specified by written amendment.

These rates, rules and regulations shall apply equally to all users of the Terminal (and to any individual, person, firm or corporation engaged in and/or responsible for the handling of a vessel and/or the movement of its cargo, including but not limited to; vessel and/or cargo Agents, Charterers, Brokers, Freight Forwarders and Shippers or Consignees) and generally shall apply to all traffic at the Terminal.

2.5 CONSENT TO TERMS OF TARIFF

The use of the Terminal shall constitute a consent to the terms and conditions of this tariff, and evidence, agreement on the part of all vessels, their Owners, Operators, Charterers, Mortgagees or Agents, the cargo Owners and Agents (Shippers or Consignees) and other users of the Terminal, to pay all charges specified, and to be governed by all rules and regulations appertaining to the Terminal.

2.6 TERMINAL OPERATING COMPANY HELD HARMLESS

Each vessel Owner, Operator, Charterer or their Agents whose vessel calls at the Terminal and each Owner or Agent of cargo handled thereat as a condition to receiving services at the Terminal hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Terminal Operating Company, any of its agents, servants or employees (and any other person, firm or corporation engaged by the Terminal Operating Company to furnish labour, materials or equipment relating to the receipt or handling of unit loads or containers, their cargoes or vessels at the Terminal) from and against all losses, claims, demands and suits for damages (including court expenses and counsel fees), for death or personal injury or property damage that may be imposed upon the Terminal Operating Company or any of its agents, servants, employees or contractors by any vessel Owner, Operator or Charterer or such cargo Owner (or their agents or employees) as a consequence of services at the Terminal.

2.7 ACCESS TO THE TERMINAL

Authorizations to access the terminal will be granted after written/faxed demand. Authorizations will be granted at the soil discretion of the Terminal management. Authorizations will be valid for one day, if not otherwise mentioned on the authorization.

2.8 RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE TO FACILITIES

All users of the Terminal, or their Agents, shall be responsible for any damage resulting from their use of berths or any of the Terminal facilities and the Terminal Operating Company reserves the right to repair, or otherwise cause to be repaired, any and all such damage at the expense of such users.

2.9 ALTERATIONS TO TARIFF

The Terminal Operating Company reserves the right to alter, change, or amend from time to time any or all charges, terms, conditions or interpretations contained in this booklet with or without prior notice.

2.10 ASCERTAINING OF TONNAGE

The tonnage will be normally considered based on the cargo manifest. However, the Terminal Operating Company reserves the right to either demand a copy of the bill of lading or packing list or carry out random verification of measurement of any cargo and consider the highest volume for the purpose of tariff.

2.11 INSURANCE

Charges published in this tariff do not include any expense for insurance covering the cargo, containers, vessels or other equipment. It is the Terminal user’s responsibility to provide such insurance coverage.

2.12 CURRENCY

All rates are stated and are payable in Omani Rial.

2.13 PAYMENT IN ADVANCE

The Terminal Operating Company may at its sole discretion, estimate and collect in advance all charges which may accrue against cargo or vessels. Use of the Terminal, or permission to sail, may be denied until such advance charges have been paid.

2.14 PAYMENT OF INVOICES

All invoices are issued as due on presentation. Failure to pay may cause a lien to be placed on the goods handled at the Terminal and the responsible party may be denied further use of the Terminal until all outstanding charges have been paid. Charges for shore handling, stevedoring or other services have to be paid prior the start of the physical handling operation.

2.15 PORT WORKING HOURS

2.15.1 GENERAL ADMINISTRATION IN SOHAR

General Administration hours on the Terminal as well as Administration hours in the Muscat branch office are from 0830 hours to 1730 hours from Saturday to Wednesday. Offices will remain closed on Thursday, Friday and during Public Holidays.

2.15.2 TERMINAL ADMINISTRATION AT THE GATE IN SOHAR

The gate office, (Gate In and Gate Out handling, terminal administration) official working periods

Working days:from Saturday to Wednesday

Working Hours: from 0730 - 1730 hrs

In case of direct deliveries the gate is open in accordance with shipper’s or receiver’s agreed requirements.

Opening hours outside the official working period can be applied for to the operational or commercial management. Fulfillment of the requirement is at the management discretion and expenses as per tariff.

2.15.3 STEVEDORING WORKING HOURS

Standard working period for the stevedoring operations,

Working days : from Saturday 07:30hrs to Wednesday 23:30hrs (round the clock operation)
Overtime : Wednesday 23:30 – Friday 07:30 at 50%
                   Friday 16:00 – Saturday 07:30 at 50%
No-operations : Friday 07:30 – 16:00 hrs

Note:

1) During the Holy month of Ramadhan alternative working hours will be installed (max. 18 hrs. / day)

2) In case of excessive heat (summer months) alternative working hours will be installed by sole discretion of CSO

3) Honoring overtime requests will be subject to management discretion

2.15.4 ACCEPTANCE AND DELIVERY OF CARGO

Standard opening hours at the landside for receipt and delivery of cargo via shore are
Working days      ;           from Saturday to Wednesday
Opening hours     :           from 0730 – 1730 hrs

All trucks and trailers have to be presented at the office gate NOT later than 1700 from Saturday to Wednesday. Trucks and trailers presented at the gate office prior to these hours will be loaded or unloaded the same day. Trucks and trailers presented after these hours might at the operator’s convenience only be loaded or unloaded the next working day, or cargo handling is subject to overtime surcharges

Note: During stevedoring activities with direct delivery/receiving alongside the vessel, cargo handling alongside the vessel will proceed in accordance with the shipper or the receiver.

2.16 OVERTIME HOURS

Overtime will be charged for all hours worked outside normal working hours, at the discretion of the Terminal Operating Company. The charges for overtime as well as for working in ex empted periods such as meal hours are as follows:

Overtime applicable: from Wednesday 23:30  hrs to Saturday 07:30 hours and Public Holidays

Stevedoring rate: Normal rate at 150%

Note:
1) All requests for labor / overtime shall be submitted by 12:00 hours on the previous working day

2) The Terminal Operating Company reserves the right both to allocate gangs to vessels at their discretion and decide the extend of overtime to be worked. Overtime to be worked at vessel’s expense.
3) The working hours during the Holy month of Ramadhan will change according to local regulations.
4) If overtime is requested by the vessel or his agent, overtime charges for Shore handling will not be applied. Overtime charges for Shore handling will only be debited for loading from the terminal on to trailers (or unloading from trailer on the terminal) on special request of the receiver (or shipper) or his agent.

Shore handling

Overtime is applicable for cargo handled beyond official opening hours, unless otherwise agreed.
Overtime on shore handlings is applicable on the receiving and delivery by truck operations, and if not in direct conjunction with a vessel operation
Overtime for receiving and delivery to be applied before 12:00 hrs to the operations management

Overtime on weekdays: 25% surcharge per handled FRT
Overtime on weekend and holidays : 50% per handled FRT, with a minimum of OMR 75.000 OMR per order/event

2.17 SAFETY AND SECURITY

Parties using Port of Sohar are required to conform with all of the current safety and security rules and regulations.

2.18 VACATING A BERTH

The Terminal Operating Company reserves the right to instruct a vessel to vacate its allocated berth on completion of discharging and/or loading. The vessel or the agent is obliged to meet the request and move at her expense and account

2.19 DANGEROUS HAZARDOUS OR OBNOXIOUS CARGO

Full details of all dangerous, hazardous and/or obnoxious cargo should be submitted to the Terminal Operating Company prior actual operations. Articles of a dangerous, hazardous or obnoxious nature will only be received at the Terminal by advance arrangement / prior approval with the Terminal Operating Company. The Terminal Operating Company reserves the right to refuse or handle any cargo or provide storage which in its judgment is likely to damage human health, other cargo or property.

2.20 STEVEDORING

The physical handling of cargo onboard the vessel from or to the vessels' hook or point of discharge or load. This includes supervision and management.

Stevedoring charges for break bulk and dry bulk are based on loading or discharging with vessels' gears.

Stevedoring rates includes stevedores, winch/crane drivers, ships tally, foreman and signalmen (vessel work only). Stevedoring rates exclude any equipment (Equipment Charges) required inside vessels' hatch / hold and/or all additional labors.

2.21 SHORE HANDLING

Shore Handling is the service charge for the movement of cargo from the hook of the vessel to the storage area or place of rest, and up to presentation to/from consignee’s/shipper's transport. For lifts over 20 Mton or with unsuitable configuration for handling with standard equipment the consignee or his Agent must make separate arrangements with the Terminal Operating Company.
In the General Cargo Section of this tariff the charges are based on either “Received at Terminal” or “Direct Delivery” basis and do not include onboard stevedoring charges.

2.21.1 DIRECT DELIVERY

Prior approval of the Terminal Operating Company must be obtained in each case. Charges cover exports delivered directly to vessel’s hook, or imports of which delivery is taken directly from vessel’s hook by the consignee or his Agent onto road transport or other mode arranged by him and which are received onto such transport as fast as the vessel can deliver or receive.

Direct deliveries are only applicable for ;

• Bulk cargoes,
• Special Breakbulk cargoes.

Bulk cargoes ; are in principle handled on direct delivery into or from tipper trucks, to be arrange by the shipping or receiving party. If handling is required with lay down facility on the terminal, rates will be provided on request taking into account the specificities of the cargo and the cargo handling requirements.

Breakbulk cargoes; which due it nature need to a special handling method. This can be dimensions, weight and extreme sensitivity to handling damage. If for any reason whatsoever goods for direct delivery are landed to the quay and/or removed to the warehouse or stacked in the open yard or place of rest, Shore Handling Charges (based on Received at Terminal rates) will be applied.

2.21.2 RECEIVING AT TERMINAL

Import: Charges include all normal cargo handling as from vessel's hook until delivery on to the consignee's (or his agent's) trailer with temporary storage on the terminal (storage area, lay down area, etc.).
Export: Charges include all normal cargo handling as from arrival of the cargo by the shipper's (or his agent's) trailer until delivered to vessel's hook with temporary storage on the terminal (storage area, lay down area, etc.).

2.22 TERMINAL VISITS

Vessels berthing at the terminal, which do not request any stevedoring activities will be subject to terminal charges. These terminal charges will be depending on the size of the vessel and have to be requested to the terminal prior arrival. Double banking for visiting purposes also requires to be applied for in advance and will not alter the terminal charges

2.22.1. QUAYDUES

In principle each vessel berthing at the terminal is subject to Quaydues, for the period the vessel stays alongside. The Quaydues are charged per vessel length (l.o.a.), in meters, per calendar day. : OMR 2.000

Vessels on which the stevedoring is stopped or completed and is technically or operationally not moveable, due to black-out, strike, or the like will charged this rate-per undividable hour.

Depending on the characteristics of the client or cargo-flows the terminal operator will waive the quay dues and consider them as part of the stevedoring operation for the duration of this operation. Waiting for un-berthing, vessel shifting, etc is considered as part of the stevedoring operation.

2.23 REMOVAL OF OBJECTIONABLE CARGO

The Terminal Operating Company reserves the right to move to another location and /or inspect any cargo or container, which in its judgment is likely to damage other cargo or property, at the risk and expense of the Owner or Agent of the cargo or vessel.

2.24 DISPOSITION OF UNCLAIMED CARGO / SALE BY PUBLIC AUCTION

Goods remaining at the Terminal unclaimed for a period of more than :

• Six Months for General Cargo
• Three Months for all Containerized Cargo

and for which the respective Port and Customs charges have not been paid, may be auctioned and sold by Omani Customs or by the Terminal Operating Company.

2.25 DEFINITIONS

2.25.1 VESSEL

Except as otherwise specified, when the term “vessel” is used in this tariff, it shall be held to mean floating craft of every description and shall include in its meaning the term “Owners, Charterers, Operators and Mortgagees thereof”.

2.25.2 TON & FREIGHT TONS

Unless otherwise specified, all tons shall be regarded as freight tons and shall be determined by a weight ton of 1000 kilos or a measurement ton of one cubic meter whichever is greater.

2.25.3 CARGO TYPES

CONTAINER

The terms “Container” or “Containerized” when used in this tariff refer to the standard ISO container, suitable for the transport and stacking of dry, liquid gas or refrigerated cargo, constructed of metal, fiber glass, plastic or wood, which confines its contents and must be capable of being handled as a unit and lifted by a crane with a container spreader. Container handling charges will only be applied when handling takes place on board a container or multipurpose vessels. If not, at the discretion of the terminal operator, charges will be applied as for General Cargo.

TEU

Means Twenty foot Equivalent Unit

BULK CARGO

Means the dry cargo being discharged loose from the carrying vessel or loaded loose to the receiving vessel by means of grabs, conveying systems or vacuum equipment.

RO-RO CARGO

Means and includes all vehicles, mechanical equipment and other units which have the wheels and self motive power and being capable of being driven out of or into the vessel without using any lifting or towage equipments via a stern, quarter or side ramp.

GENERAL CARGO

Means and refers to all other conventional cargo which is not defined as a type of cargo specifically

HAZARDOUS CARGO

Means all the classes of dangerous and hazardous cargo as governed by the International Maritime Dangerous cargo code published by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) as listed below :

Class:

• 1 - Explosives
• 2 - Gases: compressed/ liquefied/dissolved under pressure
• 3 - Flammable liquids
• 4 - Flammable solids/substances liable to spontaneous combustion
• 5 - Oxidizing substances and organic peroxide
• 6 - Poisonous and infectious substances
• 7 - Radioactive substances
• 8 - Corrosives
• 9 - Miscellaneous dangerous substances

2.25.4 POINT OF REST

The area at the Terminal is assigned for the receipt of inbound cargo from the vessel and from which inbound cargo may be delivered to the Consignee’s Agent or loaded on a vessel in the case of transshipment and that area which is assigned for the receipt of outbound cargo from Shipper’s Agents for loading onboard a vessel.

2.25.5 OPEN / COVERED STORAGE, PARKING AREA AND/OR MARSHALLING AREA

The term Open / Covered storage, parking area and / or marshalling area, as used in this tariff, refers to those areas at the Terminal where cargo or containers may be held in custody of the Terminal Operating Company as instructed by the Owner or Agent. This area is considered as Terminal Storage.

2.25.6 FREE TIME

The specified period during which cargo or containers handled over the quay may occupy space assigned to it in the Terminal, free of storage charges, either prior to the loading or subsequent to the discharge of such cargo or containers. Export cargo free period will start from the date of receipt. Export and Transshipment cargo storage charges will be raised to the Agent of the loading vessel. Import cargo free period will start as from the General Landing Date.

2.25.7 GENERAL LANDING DATE

The General landing Date is the meridian date of the stevedoring activities on board a vessel. As from this date the free storage on the terminal will be calculated. Demurrage will start as from the next day after the free storage period.

2.25.8 PORT LABOURS

If Port Labo rs is kept waiting after being ordered for quay / yard / warehouse / any other activity, the cost of labo rs plus equipment and drivers etc., shall be for the account of the Consignee or Vessel’s Agent.

2.25.9 PALLETIZED CARGO

Palletised/unitised rates shall apply to cargo which fulfill the following conditions :-

• a) The cargo must be in small packages or units which are wrapped and/or strapped together on a pallet .
• b) The pallet must be a device on the deck of which a quantity of goods can be assembled to form a unit load for the purpose of transporting it, or of handling or stacking it with the assistance of mechanical equipment. The overall height and dimension of the pallet should be reduced to the minimum compatible with handling by forklift trucks and pallet trucks.
• c) The palletized unit must not be more than 2500 kilograms in weight or 4 cubic meters in measurement and the longest side of the cargo must not be more than 2 meters.
• d) The palletised/unitised cargo must be discharged or loaded wherever applicable with the aid of forklift trucks onboard and on shore.

2.25.10 TRANSSHIPMENT

“Transshipment cargo or transshipment container” means goods landed from a vessel and placed in the custody of the Terminal Operating Company for the purpose of shipment on another vessel.

To qualify for the transshipment cargo rates the cargo must be discharged by the first carrier onto the Terminal and remain in the custody of the Terminal Operating Company until it is transshipped onboard the on-carrying vessel at the Terminal.

2.25.11 DOCUMENT PROCESSING CHARGE (DPC)

Document Processing Charge will be applicable to each of the following Bills processed by the Ports Documentation Section : Standard Bill of Entry, Free Zone Bill of Entry, Ex Free Zone Import Bill, Ex Free Zone Export Bill, Export Declaration, Customs Exit/Entry, and Duty Free Storage Area Bill of Entry.