Useful addresses and telephone numbers

Introduction to Darlowo

Darlowo is a town situated on the right bank of the river Wieprza in a central section of the Polish coast. The town has a current population of 14,475.

The inhabitants of Darlowo gained town status in 1270. In the 14^th century, during the reign of Boguslaw V, the town quickly developed and the castle became a seat of Pomeranian Princes. In 1412 Darlowo, with its population of 3000, became a direct member of the Hanseatic League and owned a large fleet of fishing vessels. In the 15^th century Darlowo was ruled by the "Viking of the Baltic" Eric I, who was the King of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. When he died in 1459 he was buried in the town's church. Of the Kings who ruled Darlowo after the death of Eric I, Boguslaw X deserves a special mention. During his reign the town flourished and became one of the most important Baltic ports. In the period of the Scandinavian Wars up to a hundred ships sailed from Darlowo to Sweden delivering: woollen cloth, canvas, grain, beer and armour. At the end of the 18^th century the town transformed itself into a summer resort, attracting holidaymakers with its numerous boarding houses and summer accommodation. In 1814 a bathing area was set up in Darlowo for the first time.

In the 19^th century various projects were carried out, whose purpose was to improve and renovate the port's infrastructure. The navigational depth was increased in the whole port and an inner port was built, along with mooring facilities along the river Wieprza and the breakwaters of the outer port Darlowko. A pilots' station was also constructed, and a navigation light was positioned on top of it. As a result of the rebuilding work, Darlowo became the most frequent destination for ships out of the ports on the cost of Central Pomerania, closely followed by Kolobrzeg. The smallest number of ships sailed to Ustka. In 1931 a fishing basin was put into operation, which was situated on the eastern bank of the Wieprza. From 1939 to 1945 a shipyard for ferroconcrete ships, which launched a container and two trading ships, was constructed.

In 1948 the port in Darlowo was once more put into operation. The waters of the port cover an area of 16.0 hectares, the coastline is 3 km in length, and the whole port covers an area of 46.4 hectares. At present the port has no single administration. The main administrator is the Maritime Office in Slupsk, which owns 75% of the land around the port.

Navigation information

The commercial and fishing harbour of Darlowo is situated at the mouth of the Wieprza river. The commercial harbour consists of an avanport, the Port of Darlowko, the manoeuvring basin and the main basins in Darlowo.

The entrance is formed by two concrete breakwaters, from avanport, extending over 450 m from the east and west side of the river's mouth. It is 38 m wide and has a depth of 7.5 m.

During a storm up to 7oB from SW through W to NE it may be difficult to enter the harbour due to the high waves and the narrow entrance to the harbour. In this situation vessels have to be anchored on the road. There is an anchorage on the road with depth of 16 m nearby the entrance.

The coastal current outside breakwaters sets NE across the entrance with winds from the SSW, through the W, to the NW, and SW with winds from the NNE to the ESE. It is strongest when gales, which blow parallel to the coast, attains a rate from 2 to 3 knots. The current in the river usually flows outwards, and in the spring thaw, may attain a rate of 2 - 3 knots.

The water level varies between 0.1 m below and 0.5 m above the mean level. Gales from the NW to the N may raise water level to about 1.5 m and those from the S to the SW may lower it to about 0.6 m.

The avanport is an outer harbour called Darlowko, with depths not exceeding 6.5 m. Darlowko is a health resort and a fishing port. It is situated at the south side of the mouth of the Wieprza river.

There is a drawbridge about 600 m from the entrance, which is opened every hours and with special permission. Communication with the bridge operator may be made through the Harbour Master's Office (VHF Channel 16, 12).

Darlowo town is located about 1.5 Nm upstream from the drawbridge. The port channel is dredged to a depth of about 5.5 m and has a bed width of about 23.0 m, allowing vessels to meet narrowings. The depth in the port basin is 3.5 to 4.5 m.

The dimensions of vessels entering Darlowo harbour can not exceed a length (LOA) of 75 m, width of 12 m, and max. draught of 4.0 m. The specified draught shall refer to the mean water level.

Pilotage is compulsory for all vessels over 40 m LOA. Pilotage shall be obligatory at the area from road (anchorage) to vessel's berth and vice versa.

Pilots are available from 06.00 to 22.00 daily. The 2 hrs notice of arrival is required through Witowo Radio or Darlowo Harbour Office VHF Channel 16, 12.

Port facilities

There are four port basins.

• Zimowy Basin
  It's suitable for the smallest vessels, sailing boat and fishing vessels. It specialises in handling fish cargo and fish equipment.
• Rybacki Basin
  It provides quays of total length of 400 m with 3.5 m depth. There are slips for small vessels not more then 30 m length. It is equipped with mobile cranes, repair workshops and other fishing facilities. Divers are available.
• Przemyslowy Basin
  It is a part of the industrial and commercial harbour. The 300 m long basin provides quays with a total length of 650 m. It is equipped with 2 grain elevators with 2 suction pipes and loading pipe. One suction pipe provides discharging rate of 40 t/h. There are multi-storeyed lofts and flat warehouse of cubature about 17,000 m³. Conveyor belts which can be used for loading: coal (5 vessels can load simultaneously), fertilizers, wood chips and other dry loose bulk cargo. There are 2 mobile cranes of 15 T lifting capacity, fork-lift-trucks, stacking-machines, trailers and lorries.
• Osadowy Basin
  It's situated in current Wieprza river. Provides lay-bay berths with variable depth from 1.5 to 3.5 m.

Cargo traffic in statistics

The total throughputs of the Port of Darlowo amounted:

The port handles mostly grain, which contributes the greatest amount in ports turnover.

Charges

REMARK

All rates quoted in this chapter are subject to change over a year. The prices are given for evaluation purpose.

Charges are given according to the Tariff for services of the Polish seaport Darlowo, valid from June 30st, 2008.

Tonnage dues

• Sea going and inland vessels
  

  EUR / 1 GT
  entrance/exit	montly	quarterly	yearly
  0.30	3.00	6.00	24.00

  
  
• Cruise vessels, ferries
  

  EUR / 1 GT
  entrance/exit	montly	quarterly	yearly
  0.80	4.00	8.00	32.00

  
  
• Passenger ferries and passenger-cargo ferries
  
  

  EUR / 1 GT
  entrance/exit	montly	quarterly	yearly
  0.70	7.00	14.00	56.00

  
  
• Fishing vessels
  

  size of the vessel [m]	entrance/exit	montly	quarterly	yearly
  up to 6	1.50	15.00	30.00	120
  6 - 9	2.00	20.00	40.00	160
  9 - 13	6.00	60.00	100.00	400
  13 - 15	7.00	70.00	115.00	460
  15 - 18	9.00	90.00	140.00	560
  18 - 21	12.00	120.00	200.00	800
  21 - 26	16.00	160.00	280.00	1120
  26 - 50	25.00	250.00	426.00	1704
  over 50	26.00	260.00	500.00	2000

  
  

Quay dues

• Sea going and inland vessels
  

  EUR / 1 GT
  daily	montly	quarterly	yearly
  0.14	1.40	3.00	12.00

  
  
• Cruise vessels, ferries
  

  EUR / 1 GT
  daily	montly	quarterly	yearly
  0.17	3.00	6.00	24.00

  
  
• Passenger ferries and passenger-cargo ferries
  
  

  EUR / 1 GT
  daily	montly	quarterly	yearly
  0.17	3.00	6.00	24.00

  
  
• Fishing vessels

  EUR / 1 GT
  size of the vessel [m]	daily	montly	quarterly	yearly
  up to 6	0.17	1.70	3.40	13.60
  6 - 9	0.30	3.00	6.00	24.00
  9- 13	0.70	7.00	12.00	48.00
  13-15	0.90	9.00	16.00	64.00
  15 - 18	1.30	13.00	22.00	88.00
  18 - 21	1.70	17.00	28.00	112.00
  21 - 26	2.50	25.00	45.00	180.00
  26 - 50	4.10	41.00	65.00	260.00
  over 50	5.70	57.00	85.00	340.00

  
  

Passenger dues

0.90 EUR/1 passenger

Agency services

Prices are given according to the "Agency Fees in Polish sea ports" of the Polish Shipbrokers' Association, valid from July 2008.

• The scale of agency fees, adopted by the Association, based on vessel's summer maximum loadline dead-weight and expressed in PLN covering clearance, port operation and ship's husbandry, is to be regarded as the recommended minimum rate level to be charged by the Agents.
• Owners, respectively Operators, shall place the Agents in funds, covering the estimated disbursements, in advance, but latest on vessel's arrival. For late remittance of funds Owners will be charged an interest of 5% per month or pro rata.
• Agents are not responsible for currency exchange losses on any sums held for the account of the Owners or which they have to receive or pay.
• The agency fees do not include any percentages, petties, bank charges, fares, deliveries of cash to Master or parcels, advertising, travelling, etc. which will be charged separately.
• Should Owners require the Agents to undertake full processing and settlement of claims, the Agents are entitled to a separate remuneration as mutually agreed.
• Vessels discharging and loading bulk or liquid cargo of one grade will be charged a basic fee separately for each of these operations.
• Vessels arriving with inward cargo and sailing in ballast, or vessels arriving in ballast and sailing with outward cargo shall have a basic fee applied only once.

Basic agency fees

Surcharges

The following surcharges are to be added:

• vessels carrying cargo in bales, bags, packages, containers, boxes or pallets, otherwise unitized, also forest and steel products: 10%
• vessels carrying mixed cargo of two or more distinctly different commodities, liquid, bulk, unitized, vehicles: 20%
• gas tankers (cbm tank capacity substitutes DWAT on the basic fee scale; surcharge applied on cubic metre tank capacity):
  • up to 10,000 m³ cargo capacity: 30%
  • over 10,000 m³ cargo capacity: 20%
• pure car carriers: 20%
• reefer vessels: 20%
• ro-ro vessels: 20%
• vessels cleared on roads:10%
• attendance to crew members/persons:
  • joining or leaving the vessel (per person): PLN 80.00
  • those hospitalised or requiring medical care, left behind (per person per week): PLN 200.00

Reductions

The following reductions are to be subtracted:

• vessels entering the port for replenishing bunkers, water, provisions, seeking shelter in case of adverse weather or damage: 50%
• vessels entering the port to seek medical assistance: 25%
• vessels entering the port or shipyard for repairs or dry docking: 75%
  but increased by the fee of PLN 80.00 per day.
• newbuildings leaving the shipyard: 75 %
• arranging delivery/redelivery on or off the Time Charter: 35%
• attending as a supervisor or owner's protecting agent when vessel is consigned to and handled by another company acting as Charterer's Agents: 50%

Liner agencies

• Freight commissions cover announcing sailings, tariff information, marketing and sales, issuing freight documents, collecting and remitting freights, etc. It amounts to:
  1. outward cargo:
     • canvassed and booked: 5%
     • handled but booked elsewhere: 2.5%
  2. inward cargo:
     • canvassed and booked: 2.5%
     • handled but booked elsewhere: 1.5%
     • collection fee on freight for cargo on which no commission has been earned: 1%
• Should for any reason the required details not be disclosed or are not available, the agents are entitled to charge a commission of PLN 2.00 per ton inwards and PLN 4.00 outwards.
• Containers and ISO equipment logistic fee (unit handled, controlled, monitored and reported by the agent) per unit PLN 100.00
• The charges are applicable also in the case of incidental calls of liner vessels, loading or discharging general or containerised cargo, in the absence of a concluded Agency Agreement.