Pre-arrival documents for Algerian ports

When to send what

• ETA notices: 96, 72, 48, 24 and 12 hours before arrival at Arzew, Bethioua and Skikda, to the suppliers, the terminal and the agent. Skikda also expects the NOR. For product cargoes at Arzew the charterer may ask for 72, 48, 24 and 12 hours.
• Documents for the port system: at Skikda, 72 hours before arrival, so the agent can enter the ship in the port’s system. At Algiers, 48 hours before arrival where possible. Elsewhere, as soon as you can.
• ISPS pre-arrival notification: to the port facility security officer 48 hours before arrival, with the Maritime Declaration of Health and the crew list, copying the agent. The agent sends you the form with the port information.

Documents to send before arrival

The lists differ a little from port to port. Most ports ask for:

• General declaration (FAL 1)
• Cargo declaration and cargo manifest, or “no cargo on board”
• Ship’s stores declaration (bonded stores list)
• Crew effects declaration
• Crew list
• Passenger list
• Dangerous goods manifest
• International Ship Security Certificate
• International Tonnage Certificate (1969)
• Certificate of registry
• Oil pollution liability insurance certificate
• Ship’s particulars

Skikda adds the stowage plan, Maritime Declaration of Health, vaccination list, crew temperature list, last ports of call, ship sanitation certificate, nil and narcotics lists and the arrival draft. Algiers asks for FAL forms 1 to 7, the cargo plan, the IMO crew list, the last 10 ports of call, the stowage plan, vaccination list, ship sanitation certificate and narcotics list.

On arrival: what each authority asks for

Officials board together after berthing. Each wants its own set of lists, presented separately:

• Harbour master: the inward declaration, the ship’s certificates (registry, safety construction, safety equipment, load line, radio, IOPP, cargo gear) and, for tankers, a ballast declaration.
• Health or quarantine: Maritime Declaration of Health, crew list, vaccination list, narcotics list, last 10 ports of call.
• Customs: currency declarations (ship and crew), crew list, crew effects, bonded stores, narcotics, arms, nil list, dangerous goods, the ship’s equipment list.
• Immigration: several crew lists (up to 5 at Arzew), with the seamen’s books ready for inspection.
• Port security officer or coastguard: declaration of security, ISPS certificate, continuous synopsis record (Béjaïa).
• Agent: clearance from the last port, copies of the certificates and particulars, cargo manifest, and duplicates of the lists above.
• Shipper at Skikda: crew list, vessel experience factor (VEF), ship’s particulars and SCAC code if any.

The full list for each port is on its page: Arzew and Bethioua, Skikda, Béjaïa and Algiers.

Avoiding delays

• Date, sign and stamp every document with the berthing date.
• Hoist the Algerian flag on arrival: the coastguard checks it at the roads and can fine a ship that hasn’t.
• Free pratique: at Béjaïa it is granted at all fast; at the sea lines and buoys of Arzew and Skikda a visiting sanitary officer (or the pilot at Arzew) can grant it if the health declaration is in order.

Questions