President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom ratified the Bill passed by the parliament to hike the harbour fees charged at all the ports in the Maldives on Tuesday.
The ratified amendment to the regulations on the Maldives’ port charges has been gazetted by the government, thus bringing it into immediate effect.
The amendment lobbied by member of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Maavashu MP Azhan Fahmy was passed by the parliament with a majority of 50 votes in favour, while 13 lawmakers had voted against the bill.
MP Azhan had stated that he proposed the bill as the old port tariffs at harbours were those implemented 38 years ago and, thus, are no longer practical with the current changes in inflation and prices of goods.
New port charges for vessels carrying:
Less than 200 tonnes – MVR 200
200 – 1000 tonnes – MVR 300
1000 – 2000 tonnes – MVR 400
Total 2000 gross tonnes – MVR 500
Every 500 tonnes increase from 2000 tonnes – +MVR 250
Old port charges for vessels carring:
Less than 100 registered tonnes – MVR 50
100 to less than 500 registered tonnes – MVR 200
500 to less than 1000 registered tonnes – MVR 300
Total 1000 registered tonnes – MVR 400
Every 500 tonnes increase from 1000 registered tonnes – +MVR 200
A daily charge of MVR 65 will be charged from vessels from one week onwards since docking to 45 days. The charge will be increased to MVR 100 daily from Day 46 to 90, and MVR 150 from Day 91 onwards. Furthermore, port fees will not be charged from registered vessels carrying less than 1000 gross tonnes.
The fees are to be paid to the Transport Authority within three months while the vessel will not be allowed to depart from the port until all charges have been settled.
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