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Ports Ordinance [New Version], 5731-1971

פקודת הנמלים [נוסח חדש], תשל"א-1971

Published: 1971-07-28Consolidated Hebrew text as of 2025-04-01 · Last amended 2024-07-28✓ Amendment status checked against the Knesset legislation record on 2026-09-29
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Unofficial English translation — for reference only. It may contain errors or omissions and cannot be relied on as a legal text. Only the Hebrew text published in Reshumot is legally binding.More

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Despite these checks, it may contain errors, omissions, or imprecise renderings of legal terminology and cross-references, and it may not yet reflect the latest amendments. It cannot be relied upon as a legal text.

The Hebrew text as published in Reshumot (ספר החוקים) and on the Knesset website is the sole authoritative and legally binding version. In any discrepancy, the Hebrew text prevails.

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Chapter IX: Regulations

Regulations§

60.

The Minister may make Regulations in respect of any of the following matters:

(1)
(a)determining the ports in which vessels shall be registered, marking of vessels and their measurement upon registration, and registration and measurement fees;
(b)regulating the grant of licences under this Ordinance by the port manager, the transfer and renewal of licences, the conditions and fees for all of these, and regulating the cancellation of such licences;
(c)determining the qualifications required of pilots, regulating their conduct and the proper performance of their functions, and determining the fees or other remuneration they shall receive;
(d)supervision of vessels entering the area of a port or present therein;
(e)regulating the time and manner of entry of vessels into a port, their stay therein and their departure therefrom, and their berthing, positioning and removal while in a port;
(f)regulating the berth at which a vessel shall load or discharge its cargo or embark or disembark its passengers or load or discharge ballast in a port;
(g)regulating the conditions under which the loading of goods, their discharge, storage and delivery, and the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers, shall take place in a port;
(h)regulating the entry of persons, animals and vehicles into a port and their removal therefrom;
(i)maintaining order in a port;
(j)the protection, custody and safety of vessels, goods, animals and persons in a port;
(k)prohibiting the pollution of port waters, a waterway, a navigable river or any place on land from which pollutants may be carried into a port, a waterway or a navigable river, and for this purpose it is immaterial whether the pollutants originate from waste materials or from any other solid or liquid substance; Regulations pursuant to this sub-paragraph shall be made only after consultation with the Minister of Health;
(l)determining a fee for the posting of a guard on a vessel pursuant to a direction of the Ports Superintendent or the port manager;
(m)determining the working days and working hours of a port, and the fees for the services of port officers when overtime work is permitted;
(n)provisions regarding the issue of certificates by the Ports Superintendent or any other authority specified in this Ordinance or in Regulations made thereunder, and determining the fees for such a certificate;
(o)determining the fees for other arrangements and services provided by the Ports Superintendent or any other authority specified in this Ordinance or in Regulations made thereunder;
(p)determining the form of a demand under section 27, the manner of its delivery and the person to whom it is to be delivered, and the obligations that the Ports Superintendent may impose on the person to ensure compliance with the demand, including the giving of a guarantee or a bond;
(q)the giving of a guarantee or a bond to comply with the provisions of this Ordinance or Regulations made thereunder, their conditions, amounts, forms, periods and manner of deposit, as well as their collection and forfeiture if a condition thereof is not fulfilled;
(r)the safety of navigation and of human life in coastal waters, lakes, rivers and other navigable places, whether natural or artificial — by imposing regulation or supervision of navigation, including its prohibition, restriction or conditioning, all to the extent that safety requires it; however, the prohibition of entry of vessels whose main occupation is fishing into a specified area requires consultation with the Minister of Agriculture;
(2)
(a)provisions regarding the periodic inspection of vessels to verify their seaworthiness;
(b)the definition and determination of any vessel as seaworthy or unseaworthy;
(c)prohibiting the sailing or navigation of an unseaworthy vessel located in Israel, and, in respect of a vessel registered in Israel — also when it is located abroad, and preventing sailing or navigation that has been prohibited as aforesaid;
(d)(Repealed);
(e)(Repealed);
(f)maintaining and keeping an official log on vessels registered in Israel, the entries to be made therein and the supervision thereof;
(g)certifying authenticated copies of entries as referred to in sub-paragraph (f); a copy so authenticated shall be admissible as evidence in any legal proceedings;
(h)implementing the provisions of international conventions on maritime matters to which Israel is a party;
(i)imposing and regulating the obligation to insure motor vessels against third party risks;
(3)any matter required or permitted to be prescribed under this Ordinance;
(4)anything necessary for the effective implementation of the purposes of this Ordinance and its provisions.

Regulations for the Prevention of Congestion§

61.
(a)In order to prevent congestion in a port the Minister may make Regulations regarding the suspension of loading onto or discharge from vessels and regarding the regulation of loading, discharge, lighterage, receipt, storage, deposit and delivery of goods and the supervision of those operations.
(b)Loss caused to the master of a vessel or to its owner or to an owner of goods as a result of a suspension or regulation pursuant to this section shall not constitute grounds for a claim against the State or the Ports Superintendent or any port officer.
(c)The port manager shall notify in writing the masters of vessels or other interested parties, upon their request, of the reasons for the suspension of loading or discharge of cargo to or from a vessel or for the prohibition on depositing goods on the quays of the port or on a particular quay therein.

Regulations for the Employment of Porters§

62.

The Ports Superintendent may make Regulations governing the employment of porters working within the area of a port and prescribing the remuneration for their services.

Commencement§

63.

This New Version shall come into force on the 11th day of Elul 5731 (1 September 1971).

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Schedule (Section 1)

[Translation pending]

Table
EilatAshkelonTiberiasAcre
—AshdodHaifaJaffaTel Aviv

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Comparison Table

Terms Common in the Ports Ordinance

Arbeh ............................. barge

Mamsha .......................... slipway

Mangash ............................. berth

Masokh .............................. shed

Mifdeh (from customs) ....................... clearance

Nattav .............................. pilot

Nittuv [Nittuv] .......................... piloting

Navvat [Navvat] ................................................ navigator

Nivvut [Nivvut] ...................... navigation

Savvar [Savvar] ................................................ stevedore

Passid ...................... perishable

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