Hi I'm not sure but I have a feeling it means Customs Clearance - ie the ship checked out to make sure no one is 'smuggling' in goods which might otherwise be charged Customs Tax to bring into a country. Also could mean the ship's crew and passengers were checked to see they weren't carrying any diseases/illnesses that the authorities don't want to be let loose on the general populace. I grew up in Nelson NZ - we lived in a house on the hills face looking out across Tasman Bay where we'd see the overseas ships anchored waiting for the pilot to clear the ship and then they'd come in on the high tide through to the harbour. I remember my Dad telling me this applied to all the merchant ships that came in to port - the pilot launch would go out with the police/medical officer to meet the ship before it entered port and then once the ship's log was checked, the captain and the ship's doctor gave their reports then the ship was clear to enter the port. No doubt the ship's cargo manifest was checked to see no illegal products were being brought into the country. Cheers Ainslie.