This guide helps owners/operators and Masters produce fair and balanced conditions of use (COU) terms, in order to promote a safety culture in port.

Commercial ports are vital in the maritime environment. Understanding each port's details, including policies, procedures, facilities and restrictions, is crucial for seamless visits. Effective planning starts with the accurate information provided by Guide to Port Entry.

This edition includes amendments to Guidelines for the detention of ships (appendix 2) and Guidelines for port State control under MARPOL Annex VI (appendix 18), and new Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships (appendix 19).

This document aims to communicate best practice on risk reduction measures for terminals that are designed using prescriptive or risk-based approaches. While this document does not advocate for any one approach, risk-based language is used to help communicate best practice effectively. Products such as LNG, LPG, ammonia and CO2 are covered by this document in response to the growing demand in the liquefied gas industry.