9% increase to port & berth dues
Alan Peat
THE CONTENTIOUS ad valorem wharfage charge is to be reduced from April 1, according to information released to FTW by Siyabonga Gama, chief executive of Portnet's port authority division (PAD).
Concurrent with this, he said, we will adjust the minimum and maximum value for wharfage purposes - to retain the existing unit wharfage per ton payable by cargoes that qualify for minimum and maximum wharfage.
Gama likes to view this as a first small step towards reducing port costs, specifically wharfage charges payable.
A subject, he added, that PAD has approached with an understandable caution.
Effective April 1, the wharfage section of the tariff sheet will read:
- Import wharfage: 1.70% ad valorem
l Maximum value:
R9 423/ton - wharfage of R160.19/t
l Minimum value: R214/t - wharfage of R3.63/t
- Export wharfage: 0.85% ad valorem
l Maximum value:
R9 423/t - wharfage of R80.10/t
l Minimum value: R214/t - wharfage of R1.82/t
- Coastal wharfage: Nil
- Transhipment wharfage: Nil
The normal annual tariff increases are applied to the other PAD services.
An average percentage increase of 9% has been applied to port and berth dues; 10% to marine services (tug and berthing services, pilotage etc); 9% to ship repair facilities; and 9% to lighthouses.
Contract tariff increases are not included in this adjustment but will be individually negotiated.
A schedule of the revised tariffs will be ready by February 28, and those on Portnet's customer list will get their Portnet Tariff Book before April 1 - also due to be out on the Internet later this year.
I trust that this notification will allow ample time for planning, said Gama.
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