Parliament Tuesday passed the government proposed amendment to increase the charge taken from vessels using the main port.
The amendment was passed during Tuesday's sitting with 59 lawmakers voting in favour while 13 voted against.
The government lawmaker who proposed the amendment had argued that the present port charges was devised years ago and is unsuitable now due to the changes in the price of goods being transported by vessels.
Proposed charges
- Under 200 gross tons: MVR200
- Between 200 to 1000 gross tons: MVR300
- Between 1000 to 2000 gross tons: MVR400
- 2,000 gross tons: MVR 500
- For every additional 500 gross tons after 2,000, MVR 250 will be charged
Only vessels registered in the Maldives weighing less than a 1000 gross tons are exempt from this charge.
Charges are collected for the length the ships remained docked as well. For any vessel that stays between 7 to 45 days will have to pay MVR65 per day.
A fee of MVR100 will be collected from 45 to 90, while MVR150 will be collected from between the 91st day to the 150th.
The amendments says that the charges must be paid to the transport authority within three months.
