Ship agents and the proforma (PDA)
Every ship calling at a Turkish port needs a local agent. The agent deals with the harbour master, customs, pilots, tugs and the terminal on the ship's behalf, and passes the port costs to the owner or charterer.
What an agent does
- Arrival and departure formalities with the harbour master, customs, immigration and health authorities.
- Booking pilots, tugs and mooring, and coordinating the berth with the terminal.
- Cargo documents: notices of readiness, statements of facts, bills of lading on behalf of the master.
- Husbandry: crew changes, provisions, spare parts, cash to master, doctors and repairs.
- Keeping owners and charterers informed: line-up, berthing prospects, delays.
Owners', charterers' and protecting agents
Under a voyage charter the charterer often nominates the agent, who is paid by the owner. Owners who want their own eyes on the port appoint a protecting agent (or husbandry agent) as well. Each looks after its principal's interest, so it helps to know whose agent you are dealing with.
The proforma disbursement account (PDA)
Before the call the agent sends a PDA: an estimate of port costs that the principal usually pays in advance. It typically includes:
- Light dues and harbour master and health fees.
- Pilotage, towage and mooring.
- Berth or port dues charged by the terminal.
- Agency fee, communication and launch hire.
After departure the agent sends the final disbursement account (FDA) with actual invoices; the difference is settled. Comparing PDAs from two or three agents is normal practice for a first call at an unfamiliar port.
Finding an agent
Every port page on Portiva has a ship agents tab with the agencies that have an office there, from the İMEAK Chamber of Shipping register. Send one request to get PDAs from agents in that port.
Finding a surveyor
Choose the port on Portiva to see every authorized company there. To get quotes, send one request and we pass it to companies working in that port. Survey companies abroad looking for a local surveyor to attend on their behalf can use the attending surveyor request.