Legal Definitions - quayage

Quayage refers to a specific fee or charge levied by a port authority or facility operator for the use of a quay or wharf during the process of loading or unloading cargo from a vessel.

Here are some examples illustrating how quayage applies:

• Imagine a large international shipping company importing thousands of consumer electronics from overseas. When their container ship docks at a busy port, the port authority charges a fee for the privilege of using the designated wharf space to unload the containers onto trucks or into warehouses. This fee, often calculated based on factors like the volume or weight of the cargo and the duration of the vessel's stay at the dock, is an example of quayage.

• Consider a agricultural exporter preparing to ship a large quantity of wheat to another country. Once the bulk carrier arrives at the port, the exporter pays a fee to the port operator for the use of the quay where the grain will be loaded from silos onto the ship. This charge, covering the use of the physical dock infrastructure for the loading operation, is also known as quayage.

• A commercial fishing fleet regularly brings its catch back to a specific port for processing and sale. When a trawler returns with its hold full of fish, it moors at a designated wharf to unload its perishable goods. The port charges the fishing company a fee for using that wharf space to offload the fish. This payment for the use of the dock during the unloading process constitutes quayage.