President ratifies amendment, international port fee increased

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom has ratified the amendment to law on ports, approving an increase in port fees for international ships which use Maldivian territorial waters.

The amendment takes effect immediately this Tuesday with President’s ratification.

The amendment to impose a higher port fee was submitted to People’ss Majlis by Vaamah MP Azhaan Fahmy.

MP Azhaan said the port fee was set 38 years back, and that it needed to be amended based on changes to commodities.

Amendments:

• MVR 200 fee for ships carrying less than 200 tons

• MVR 300 fee for ships carrying 200 – less than 1,000 tons

• MVR 400 fee for ships carrying 1,000 – less than 2,000 tons

• MVR 500 to ships carrying less than 2,000 gross tons

• MVR 250 for every 500 tons above 2,000 gross tons

Previous port fee:

• MVR 50 for ships carrying less than 100 net registered tons

• MVR 200 for ships carrying 100 – less than 500 net registered tons

• MVR 300 for ships carrying 500 – less than 1,000 net registered tons

• MVR 400 for ships carrying 1,000 net registered tons

• MVR 200 for every 500 tons above 1,000 net registered tons