Singapore's port dues rates to increase by about 6% from Jan 1, 2022

PORT dues rates will be increased from Jan 1 next year to fund the increased costs of operating and maintaining the Port of Singapore, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) said on Thursday.

This will encourage vessels to make faster turnarounds in the port so that more ships can be served within the limited anchorage space there, MPA added.

The port dues rates will be increased in two phases. In the first phase from Jan 1, the rates will be hiked by up to about 6 per cent for vessels calling at the Port of Singapore to load or unload cargo or to embark or disembark passengers, with port stays of between two and four days.

Vessels that stay in port for a day or less will not be affected by an increase in this phase, to encourage quick turnarounds so the port can serve more ships.

However, the second phase of the hike, to come on Jan 1, 2023, will affect them.

These adjustments follow consultations with industry partners including the Singapore Shipping Association and the Association of Singapore Marine Industries, MPA said.

Port dues fund the maintenance of Singapore's fairways, anchorages and aids to navigation, which are vital to the navigational safety of port users. They also fund the vessel-traffic management system and other systems for the management of Singapore's port waters.

MPA said these costs have increased since port dues rates were last revised in 2014.