§ 13-2. Definitions; general wharf regulations.

(a)

The term "wharf" as mentioned herein refers to any of the wharves, either open or shedded, belonging to or operated by the city.

(b)

"Wharfage" is a charge on freight over a wharf or transferred between vessels or located from water over shipside, while vessel occupies berth at wharf. It does not include sorting, piling, weighing, handling, insurance, customs charge, revenue stamps, or fees of any nature imposed by the state or federal government against the shipment or vessel transporting the same. All vessels and their owner landing goods on the wharves or receiving goods from or over the wharves or delivering or receiving oil by pipelines or delivering or receiving good from barges or other craft while said vessel is berthed at a wharf, thereby contract to pay and are responsible for the wharfage on same, at the rate provided herein to be collected either from vessel, their owners or their agents.

(c)

Freight placed on wharf shall be considered to have earned wharfage when placed upon the wharf and wharfage will be collected on it whether or not it eventually is loaded on vessel.

(d)

Cargo discharged from vessels for transhipment by vessel, if reloaded within fifteen (15) days and if it has not changed ownership, will be assessed wharfage on the outward movement only. In case cargo remain on the wharves more than fifteen (15) days, both inward and outward wharfage will be assessed. The day on which cargo is placed on the wharves shall be counted as the first day. The day on which cargo is lifted shall not be counted.

(e)

[For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms are defined as follows:]

(1)

Intercoastal canal traffic: All traffic between points served by canals and rivers.

(2)

Coastwise traffic: All traffic between any two (2) or more Atlantic or gulf ports of the United States.

(3)

Intercoastal traffic: All traffic between Atlantic and gulf ports of the United States and the west coast of the United States.

(4)

Import traffic: All traffic moving from ports not within the continental United States.

(5)

Export traffic: All traffic moving from the continental United States to ports not within the continental United States.

(f)

The city does not engage in the business of storage or housing of property on its wharves, and will not be responsible for loss or damage to property remaining thereon. All property landed or received on any of the wharves is thereafter at the risk of the owners and will be subject to free time penalty charges as set forth in this section. Vessel owners, operators and/or agents will be held responsible for collection of penalty charges accruing hereunder.

(g)

Free time: Free time is the maximum period allowed prior to vessel arrival and after vessel departure for assembling cargo for outbound movement by vessel or removing inbound cargo discharged from vessel, without assessment of penalty charges. Free time does not apply on cargo not loaded on or discharged from a vessel.

(h)

Penalty: Penalty is a charge assessed against cargo which remains on the wharves in excess of the free time allowed.

(i)

Day: For the purpose of this section of the tariff a day shall be considered as a twenty-four-hour period, beginning at 12:01 a.m. A fraction of a day shall be considered as a full day.

Month: For the purpose of this section of the tariff, the month referred to is that period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on the first day of the calendar month following spotting of the cargo for unloading and ending at 11:59 p.m. on the last day of the calendar month preceding loading out of the cargo.

(j)

Ton: For the purpose of this section of the tariff the ton referred to is a short ton of 2,000 pounds.

(k)

Computation time.

(1)

Outbound cargo. In computing days on outbound cargo, time runs from the day cargo is placed on the wharves, and ends with and includes the day the receiving vessel goes on dockage. The day cargo is placed on the wharves, and the day the receiving vessel goes on dockage shall each be counted as a full day.

(2)

Inbound cargo. In computing on inbound cargo, time will begin with the first day following date of vacating of berth by discharging vessel, and will continue to and include day cargo is removed from wharf. Time will run continuously, including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

(l)

Free time, penalty charges.

(1)	Free time:	Inbound cargo—Seven (7) days
		Outbound cargo—Fifteen (15) days
(2)	Exceptions:	(1) Outbound free time on cotton and liners moving direct from West Texas north and west San Antonio, and when advance arrangements have been made with the harbor master, shall be thirty (30) days.
(3)	Penalty:	Inbound cargo—Three cents ($0.03) per ton per day
		Outbound cargo—Four cents ($0.04) per ton per day
(4)	Exceptions:	Penalty on cotton and cotton liners shall be five cents ($0.05) per bale per day.

 

(Ord. No. 3253, § 2, 10-7-85)