CLASSIFICATION OF COMPANIES
CLASSIFICATION OF COMPANIES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE AQUATIC SECTOR
Legal Framework: LOEA, LMAC, MARPOL, SOLAS, and Administrative Rulings
Abreviaturas:
LOEA: Organic Law of Aquatic Spaces (Ley Orgánica de los Espacios Acuáticos)
LMAC: Law of Marinas and Connected Activities (Ley de Marinas y Actividades Conexas)
MARPOL: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
SOLAS: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
BWM: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
LOEA: Organic Law of Aquatic Spaces (Ley Orgánica de los Espacios Acuáticos)
LMAC: Law of Marinas and Connected Activities (Ley de Marinas y Actividades Conexas)
MARPOL: International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships
SOLAS: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
BWM: International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments
SHIPPING AGENCIES AND OPERATORS
| COMPANY / CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Freight Forwarder | Management and coordination of cargo operations | LMAC Art. 237 |
| Cargo Consolidator | Grouping of cargo for logistics optimization | LMAC Art. 236 |
| Shipping Agency | Representation of shipowners and operational management | LMAC Art. 235 |
| Multimodal Transport | Integration of maritime-land transport modes | LMAC Art. 238 |
| Shipping Company | Commercial operation of cargo or passenger vessels | LMAC Arts. 18, 233 |
PORT AND SUPPORT SERVICES
| COMPANY / CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Tugboat Service | Assistance in mooring and unmooring maneuvers | LMAC Arts. 233, 218 |
| Launch Service | Transport of personnel and supplies to vessels | LMAC Arts. 233, 223 |
| Ship-to-Ship Transfer | Transfer of cargo between vessels at sea | LMAC 18-3b / MARPOL Anx I Cap 8 |
| Passenger Transport | Regular or charter passenger transport service | LMAC Art. 18-3a |
| Passenger Cooperatives | Community transport on authorized routes | LOEA Art. 74, LMAC 18-3a |
INSPECTION, CERTIFICATION, AND CONSULTANCY
| COMPANY / CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Classification Societies | Issuance of class and compliance certificates | LMAC Art. 234 |
| Inspection Services | Technical survey of vessels and facilities | LMAC Art. 234 |
| Temporary Certificates | Issuance of provisional navigation documents | LMAC Art. 234 |
| Ship Brokerage | Intermediation in chartering, sales, and purchases | LMAC Art. 239 |
| Naval Consultancy | Technical, legal, and operational advisory for the sector | LMAC Art. 239 |
SAFETY, SALVAGE, AND POLLUTION
| COMPANY / CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Aquatic Safety / Salvage | Rescue of human lives in maritime emergencies | LOEA Art. 102-4, LMAC 240 |
| Safety Equipment | Distribution, installation, and repair of life-saving equipment | LOEA Art. 102-4, LMAC 240 |
| Sampling – Ballast Water | Control and management of ballast water (BWM Convention) | LOEA 102-4 / Prov. Adm. 363 / BWM |
| Garbage Collection | Management of solid waste in aquatic spaces | LOEA 102-4 / MARPOL Anx V |
| Hazardous Waste Collection | Management of hazardous and polluting substances | LOEA 102-4 / MARPOL Anx III |
| Fumigation and Disinfection | Phytosanitary control in ports and on vessels | LOEA 102-4 / SOLAS Parte 4, Regla 4 |
PROVISIONING AND COMPLEMENTARY SERVICES
| COMPANY / CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Provisioning (Ship Chandler) | Supply of provisions, spare parts, and equipment to vessels | LMAC Arts. 240, 18-3j |
| Cargo Inspection | Verification of cargo quantity, quality, and conditions | LOEA Art. 102-8 |
| Hydrographic Surveys | Nautical charting, bathymetry, and oceanographic studies | LOEA Art. 102-9 |
| Nautical Management / Crewing Agency | Crew administration and personnel management | LOEA 78-10, LMAC 102-13, LCM 166-2 |
SUBAQUATIC AND SPORT ACTIVITIES
| COMPANY / CATEGORY | ACTIVITY | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Industrial Diving | Hull cleaning, underwater inspections, and repairs | LMAC Art. 166 |
| Recreational Diving | Operation of tourist diving centers | LMAC Art. 166 |
| Commercial Fishing Diving | Extraction of marine resources using diving techniques | LMAC Art. 166 |
| Scientific Diving | Marine research and underwater environmental studies | LMAC Art. 166 |
| Sport Diving | Regulated recreational diving activities | LMAC Art. 166 |
| Nautical Sport Activities | Operation of clubs, schools, and sporting events | Administrative Ruling. N° 070 |
| Fossil Fuel Activities | Operation of motorized vessels in jurisdictional waters | Administrative Ruling N° 070 |
SPECIAL PERMITS AND ROUTES
| TYPE OF PERMIT | DESCRIPTION | LEGAL STANDARD |
|---|---|---|
| Special Cabotage Permit | Exceptional authorization for transport between domestic ports | LOEA Art. 110 |
| Domestic Navigation Permit | Authorization to operate in inland and coastal waters | LOEA Art. 110 |
| Ship-to-Ship Transfer Permit | Cargo transfer operations at sea | LMAC 233-240 / MARPOL Anx I Cap 8 |
| Establishment of Maritime Routes | Approval of regular shipping lines | LOEA Arts. 74, 14 |
Note: This classification is for informational and reference purposes only. For official procedures, consult the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA) directly and verify the validity of the applicable regulations. The listed activities require prior authorization and compliance with the technical, operational, and safety requirements established under Venezuelan legislation.
