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History  |  Customs Formalities in Gibraltar  |  Gibraltar Registry of Ships

Gibraltar forms the eastern shore of a bay that has been of commercial importance from the earliest times. It has been claimed that the port of Tharshish to which the fleets of Solomon resorted was situated here. Certainly the Phoenicians recognised the advantages of its protective geographical features: they founded the colony of Melcarthos (Carteia) on the north shore during the 9th century B.C. and made it an entropy for trade with many ports throughout the Mediterranean.

Gibraltar was possessed successively by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Visgoths but remained uninhabited till the Mohammedan invasion of the Iberian peninsula in 711 A.D. by Tariq-ibn-Zeyad from whom Gibraltar gets its name, Gibel Tariq (Tariq's Mountain) and the city itself was founded by the Almohad monarch, Abd el Mumin in 1160 A.D. The Spaniards finally captured Gibraltar from  the Moors in 1462 and retained it until 1704. In that year it was surrendered to an Anglo Dutch force during the war of the Spanish Succession, since when it has remained in British hands.

The existence of the actual Rock of Gibraltar is first recorded by the Romans, who named it Calpe. It was the belief of ancient writers that the Pilars of Hercules were situated in the Strait of Gibraltar and after they perished, the two mountains, Calpe and Abyla (the latter being situated opposite Gibraltar on the African shore, retained the names.

(For further information see the History of Gibraltar)

LOCATION:

At the entrance to the Mediterranean in position Latitude - 36�08�N Longitude - 05�22�W.

CURRENCY:

One Gibraltar � = �1 sterling

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Three crew lists/Passenger lists, Maritime Declaration of Health, Ship's Register, Loadline certificate, de-rating certificate, Crew Agreement, certificate of Insurance concerning Civil liability for Oil Pollution.

PILOTAGE:

Compulsory on arrival and for berthing, unberthing and shifting anchorage. Vessels at anchor may leave without a Pilot.

ACCOMMODATION:

Cruise Liners and vessels calling for bunkers or water can be berthed at both sides of the Western Arm. Outer side is 490m long draft up to 9.6m. the inner side is 450m and maximum draft is 8m. Ships of deeper draft can be accommodated according to tide. Vessels calling for lay - up or repairs can be berthed at the Detached Mole. There are also two berths of 100m in length available to vessels discharging general cargoes.

PORT ADMINISTRATION

The Port of Gibraltar is administered by the Port Department. Within the Government of Gibraltar the Minister with responsibility for the Port is the Minister for Tourism, and Transport, The Hon JJ Holiday.

The Port Department has a staff around 50. There are in addition seven self-employed Pilots on station at the Port responsible to the Pilotage Authority, the Captain of the Port.

PRINCIPAL OFFICERS:

Captain of the Port:  Captain J Ferro

Tel: (00350) 77254
Fax: (00350) 51513

Port Surveyor:  Captain Paul V Townsend

Tel: (00350) 79028

Operations Room: S/Cdr. M Olivera

Tel: (00350) 78134
Fax: (00350) 77011

Executive Officer (Accounts): Mr P Wyatt

Tel: (00350) 71187
Fax: (003500 76750

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Any ship arriving in Gibraltar with cargo must, within 24 hours, make report of the ship and the cargo by delivery to Customs an inward manifest of goods on duly signed by the Master or Agent, as the case may be. The Master must also answer all questions which may be put to him by the Customs Officer relating to the ship, her crew, cargo, passengers,  stores, and voyage. He must also produce and deliver any document relating to the ship, her cargo etc. In the case of a ship over 1,000 net tons, the manifest required shall only relate to cargo to be landed or transhipped in Gibraltar. However, the Master must still answer any question and produce a manifest of goods in transit if this is required by the Custom Officer. The cargo is then unloaded and placed in Transit Sheds where it is segregated and sorted out by the ship's agents for delivery for home use or for re-export from Gibraltar. A free storage period of five days is allowed - thereafter if the goods have not been cleared then they are stored in a Government Warehouse where store rent accrues.

Transhipment facilities are available in Gibraltar and no import duty is payable on goods which, on importation, are declared to be in transit or for transhipment purposes.

Private pleasure crafts arriving in Gibraltar are subjected to normal Customs clearance and the Master must produce to the authorities a crew list giving details of those on board, including names, nationalities, passport numbers etc. On arrival, yachts must report to the reception berth on the starboard side of the approach to the Marinas. Information about the actual vessel is also required which should include nationality, port of registry etc. It is convenient for these crews lists to be ready before the vessels arrives in Gibraltar. There are prohibitions on importation of certain items such as flick knives, gravity knives, controlled drugs, firearms, explosives, ivory etc.

There is a 12% import duty on new vessels imported and which are going to be permanently based here. Temporary importation, without payment of duty, is allowed, provided that the importer is not permanently resident in Gibraltar. Unaccompanied yachts imported by non-residents may remain in Gibraltar under temporary import regulations although they may be placed under Customs seal until duty is paid.

Further information about Customs formalities may be obtained from the Collector of Customs, Customs House, Waterport, Gibraltar  - Telephone 78879, Fax 78362, Telex GIBCUS 2376.