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The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reminded the shipping community on Friday that from January 1 it will be withdrawing its port dues concession for MARPOL-compliant, double-hulled (MCDH) bunker tankers operating within port limits.

Since January 2012, the MPA has granted a 50 percent port dues concession to MCDH bunker delivery vessels. The aim was to encourage the use of MCDH port limit bunker tankers at the Asian port.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has since required heavy fuel oil to only be carried by MCDH tankers from 2015. As the IMO requirement has been in force since 2015, the MPA has made the decision to withdraw the existing port dues concession from the start of next year.

From January 1, all port limit bunker tankers will be required to pay port dues in full. However, MCDH bunker tankers with their keel laid date before January 1, 2018, will continue to enjoy the 50 percent port dues concession until they reach 5 years of age.

The port dues surcharge payable will continue to apply. Vessels aged below 17 years will be required to pay a 15 percent fee, while those above 17 years of age will be subject to an incremental surcharge for each subsequent year.

Container vessels, bulk carriers and offshore support vessels (OSVs)

As previously reported, the MPA will be extending its port dues concession for container vessels, bulk carriers and offshore support vessels (OSVs) until June 30, 2018, but will be withdrawing the relief measures from July 1.

The temporary economic initiatives were rolled out progressively between November 2015 and April 2016, and will continue to be in place during the first half of next year.

Between now and June 30, the Asian port has said that it will continue to grant an additional 10 percent concession on port dues payable by ocean-going container vessels carrying out cargo operations with a port stay of not more than five days.

The extra 10 percent concession is granted on remaining port dues payable after the port dues concession for Green Port Programme (GPP), if applicable, and the existing 20 percent port dues concession for container vessels first introduced in 1996.

The 10 percent concession on port dues payable by bulk carriers carrying out cargo operations with a port stay of not more than five days will also be extended.

The MPA will also be extending the incremental concessionary rate of $0.50 per day for OSVs from the current 90 days to 180 days.