FEES OF SEAPORT SERVICES TO RISE NEXT YEAR

The Ministry of Transport has released the new fees for seaport services to be applied at local seaports, with many fees edging up by between 10% and 50%. The new fees will come into effect on January 1, 2019, Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper reported.

The price in Region I (excluding Lach Huyen Port in Hai Phong City), applied to the services of loading and unloading cargo from vessels and barges to container yards, has been adjusted upward by 10%.

Notably, the charge of loading and unloading commodities from vessels, barges to other barges, trucks at ports and vice versa are revised up by 50%.

At Cai Mep-Thi Vai Port, the price for loading and unloading containers from vessels to other vessels and barges has been adjusted upward by 10%. Meanwhile, charges for transferring goods from vessels and barges to container yards and vice versa will be reduced by 10%.

As for ports located in the Mekong Delta region, however, charges for container unloading and loading services will see a reduction of 50%.

Further, in addition to the upward adjustment of goods loading and unloading service fees, tourists on board cruise ships will be charged higher fees for using services at wharves, berths, rising to US$2.50-US$3.50 per person per trip from the current US$0.99-US$1.10.

Regarding exceptional services with fees that are higher or lower than the regulated prices, as well as ports with newly renovated berths and wharves that exclusively serve international passenger cruise ships, transport operators will have to propose price rates and send reports to the Vietnam Marine Administration. The transport ministry will then consider issuing approvals.

The ministry’s representative stated that the seaport service fee hikes would not result in an increase in logistics fees.

Source: The Saigon Times