Revised Scale

Of Charges

For Fiji Ports

Special concessions have been made for cruise ships under the revised scale of charges which

will apply to Fiji ports from

June 1.

Although some Fiji port charges and dues will go up, in most cases they will still be lower than those of overseas ports. It is the first major revision of charges since 1959.

In making the announcement, a Ministry of Communication. Works and Tourism statement said Fiji ports had not been paying their way for some years.

“In view of the need for further expansion to port facilities it is essential that charges should be re vised to reflect more accurately the cost of the facilities provided,” it said.

The major changes will be in light dues, wharfage and port dues. • Light dues; an increase from 5c a ton to 8.33 c a ton will be levied on overseas vessels (with special concession for cruise ships, which will pay the same rate as at present).

For vessels travelling between ports within Fiji, the increase will be from 1c to 1.25 c a ton. Inter-island vessels will pay for a maximum of six trips a year. • Wharfage: There will be a slight decrease in the present rate, but the time to which this rate will apply will be halved. This is in order to encourage a faster turn about of ships and make better use of wharf space.

Because the government doesn’t want to discourage cruise ships from staying longer in Fiji, they will be exempt from this decrease in time.

Ships under repair at Walu Bay will also be exempt from this change in the time limit. • Wharfage on goods: a new charge of 75c a ton will be made on all transhipment cargo landed for re-export. • Port dues: there will be no in crease in the present rate of 2.5 c per registered net ton on a vessel, but a new rate of 12.5 c per ton of cargo loaded, unloaded or dis charged wifl be introduced and pav ment will be made on the higher of the two rates.