The Gibraltar Port Authority has increased its tariffs as part of a wider shake-up that has also seen the introduction of charges on the east side anchorage. The new, increased fee structure reflects the Gibraltar Government’s wish to generate greater financial and economic benefits from maritime activity.

The Government said ships that used the eastside anchorage exposed the Rock and its taxpayers to financial and environmental risk from maritime incidents. For an example, look no further than the Fedra casualty. This should be reflected in the tariff regime it added.

In the long term, the changes on the east side in particular will bring wide benefits to the maritime community at a time when anchorage space is at a premium.

The Gibraltar Government intends to extend the facility for the provision of port services to ships anchored on the eastside anchorage, as is presently the case with the western anchorage, and this will considerably extend the port’s capacity to handle ships.

The change will be implemented once the port’s new Vessel Tracking System is installed. This will allow radar coverage of all Gibraltar’s waters.

“The Government is embarked on a programme of significant investment and change in the port to modernise, extend and improve its facilities, so that it continues to be an important engine of our economy,” said Joe Holliday, the minister responsible for shipping. “International competitiveness is key and uppermost in the Government’s mind. But Gibraltar taxpayers as a whole must get a fair deal in the process. This new tariff regime achieves all of these things.”

When the move was announced, some operators expressed concern that the hike in fees could impact negatively on the port’s competitiveness at a time when the maritime industry had taken a sharp downturn.
Many ports are trimming their charges to make it easier on customers during lean times.

The Port of Algeciras, for example, has frozen all tariffs as a way of helping its clients ride out the impact of the economic crisis and the slowdown in global trade.

The decision was taken by the port authority’s administrative board and is in line with similar measures in place at other state-owned Spanish ports.

Charges on ships, passengers and cargo will be kept at 2008 levels throughout this year. The port has also renewed a discount system for both transit cargoes and vessel dues, as well as transhipment containers.

All around the world, the economic slowdown has hit maritime trade volumes hard, leaving many ship owners trimming costs as they struggle to find cargoes for their vessels.

In the past, the east side anchorage has been used to lay up vessels while owners wait for an upturn.
Now, the tighter controls aim to minimise the risk by ensuring that only vessels calling at Gibraltar for commercial reasons can anchor on the east side while they wait for a slot.

Reacting to the concerns, the Port Advisory Council said the increase in Gibraltar’s increasing port tariffs would not dent the port’s competitiveness.

“The new port tariffs have been the subject of wide and careful consultation over many months by the Gibraltar Port Authority with member of the Council and…unanimously agreed with the level and timing for the introduction of these new tariffs,” they said in a statement at the time.

“We do not believe that these new port tariffs will have any negative effect on business in the port, which will continue to be competitive in the market.”