Port disbursements

Port disbursements are the costs incurred during a port call, paid through the local agent and recovered from the principal: port and harbor dues, pilotage, towage, mooring and unmooring, berth hire, agency fee, and cargo-handling where for the ship’s account. The agent prepares an estimated proforma disbursement account (PDA) before arrival and a final disbursement account (FDA) after departure, supported by vouchers. Under a voyage charter these costs fall to the owner and feed directly into the voyage estimate and TCE; under a time charter most port charges are for the charterer’s account. Disbursements are one of the three voyage-cost blocks alongside bunkers and canal dues.