Seatrade Cruise News is part of the Informa Markets Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.

UK shipping minister announces further cut in light dues

UK shipping minister announces further cut in light dues
UK shipping minister John Hayes has announced a reduction in the rate of light dues, the contributions paid by the shipping industry for the upkeep of navigation aids such as lighthouses, buoys and beacons around the UK and Irish coastline.

The UK government is reducing light dues rate by a penny from 40p per net registered tonne to 39p on April 1, 2015.

The rate was reduced by a penny on April 1, 2014.

The government announced its intention to take determined action in support of the UK shipping industry in 2010 by addressing the increasing cost of the marine aids to navigation service and providing long-term stability for light dues payers so they could plan budgets effectively.

This further reduction means that there has been a 19% real terms reduction in light dues since 2010.

The news will be welcomed by UK ports attracting larger cruise ships as light dues, or their equivalent, are not charged to visiting ships in other North European ports.