The Port of Singapore will reduce its port dues to enhance its competitiveness as a hub port and offer incentives to encourage environmentally friendly shipping practices, Minister for Transport Lui Tuck Yew said at the Singapore International Maritime Awards during Singapore Maritime Week.
Lui said that the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has completed a review aimed at simplifying the city-state’s port dues structure and rates and streamlining the various incentive schemes.
The streamlining of the dues setup is expected to bring in additional savings of $11 million a year. It will also see up to 83 percent of vessel calls paying lower port dues compared to today. About 10 percent of vessel calls will pay the same port dues, and up to 7 percent of vessel calls, mainly long-staying vessels, may pay more port dues.
More details of the port dues changes will be released later, the MPA said in a statement published April 11.
Additionally, Lui announced several enhancements to the Maritime Singapore Green Initiative to spur companies to adopt eco-friendly shipping practices.
Singapore-flagged ships that adopt approved SOx scrubber technology that exceeds the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) emission requirements will enjoy a 25 percent cut in their initial registration fees and a 20 percent rebate on their annual tonnage tax. This is in addition to the current 50 percent reduction on initial registration fees and 20 percent rebate on annual tonnage tax for ships that exceed the IMO’s energy efficiency design index.
Singapore-flagged ships which adopt both energy efficient ship designs and approved SOx scrubber technology exceeding IMO’s requirements will enjoy 75 percent reduction of their initial registration fees and 50 percent rebate on their annual tonnage tax.
Moreover, ocean-going vessels that burn clean fuels or use approved abatement technology throughout their stay in the port will have their port dues reduction increased from 15 percent to 25 percent. Ships that burn clean fuels or use approved abatement technology only while at berth will be given a 15 percent reduction in port dues.
Photo: Keng Susumpow
