02-Jul-2018
PORT DUES REFUNDS
Singapore
Port dues refunds
Monday, July 2, 2018, Singapore
MPA collects port dues from ships calling in the Port of Singapore to recover the costs of ensuring navigational safety within port waters, such as providing vessel traffic information in our port waters and navigational aids such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons, as well as maintenance of our fairways and anchorages.
Between 2013 and 2014, MPA implemented changes to the port dues rates following a comprehensive review with the shipping industry with the objective of streamlining the rates and their presentation.
As part of MPA’s implementation process, Port Marine Notice (PMN) No.47 of 2013 and PMN No. 162 of 2013 were issued, and the new port dues rates table was made available on MPA’s website.
As part of a recent audit review, it was found that the legislation of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Scale of Dues, Rates and General Fees) Notification was not accurately updated for two of the port dues rates, resulting in the over-collection of port dues from vessels:
a. Staying in port for more than 30 days;
and
b. Paying per call dues after first 5 days of the annual port dues scheme.
MPA estimates that less than 1% of annual vessel calls have been affected.
In line with the legislative text, MPA will refund the port dues difference to affected vessel calls based on the legislated rates.
The scope of affected vessel calls which are eligible for port dues refunds, is as follows:
Vessel Call Period: Vessels that were in port between 1 Jan 2014 and 30 June 2018.
Length of Stay Per Each Vessel Call Period / Port Dues Rates Paid/ Purposes of Call:
1. More than 30 days at anchorage/berth / per call basis / single or multiple
2. More than 5 days / per call dues after first 5 days of the annual port dues scheme / (a) Single, and was at anchorage/berth (b) Multiple, and was at MPA approved shipyard for ship repairs and/or approved offshore marine facility for offshore activities.
To request for refund, affected port users during the affected vessel call period are to submit the application for refund to MPA within a 6-month window period from 1 Jul to 31 Dec 2018. Application details can be found on the MPA website at www.mpa.gov.sg. Upon receipt of all necessary documents, MPA will process the application and inform applicants of the outcome.
MPA has amended its legislation to reflect the correct port dues rates stated in PMN No.47 of 2013 and PMN No.162 of 2013, and what was indicated in the port dues rates table on MPA’s website. MPA has also tightened its internal processes for future port dues reviews and legislative amendments.
For clarification of this PMN, please contact the MPA AR team at +65 6375 1695, or email PD_Refund@mpa.gov.sg.
(For information about operations in Singapore contact GAC Singapore at singapore@gac.com)
Source: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Port Marine Notice No.069 of 2018 dated 2 July 2018
