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Marine Guidance Note- Spring 2024

Welcome to the spring edition of our new quarterly update for marine clients and contacts.

In this edition we look at ship, passenger, and goods dues and other charges, including:

What they are
How they can be challenged
The enforcement / recovery options available to harbour authorities

With this in mind, we also comment on the importance of Schedules of Charges and how they can be improved.

It was lovely to see so many of you at the British Ports Association AGM and Lunch and we look forward to seeing people at Seaworks on the 12 June at the UKHMA AGM.

If there are any topics you would like covered in a future bulletin please do not hesitate to let us know.

With dues, care and attention: how to improve your Schedule of Charges and why it matters

All statutory harbour authorities (SHAs) will be familiar with updating their Schedules of Charges. However, with the endless range of terms used, including ship dues, passenger dues, goods dues, harbour dues, conservancy dues, wharfage to name a few, it can become quite confusing.
This article clarifies the different types of charge available to harbour authorities, how Schedules of Charges can be improved, and why it matters.

In deep water – challenges under section 31 of the Harbours Act 1964

This article is focused on the statutory right of challenge contained in section 31 of the Harbours Act 1964 in relation to the levying of ship, passenger and goods dues under the Harbours Act 1964 or local harbour legislation, and pilotage charges under the Pilotage Act 1987.

Payment is due: the recovery and enforcement of unpaid ship, passenger and goods dues and pilotage charges

For most statutory harbour authorities (SHAs) their Schedule of Charges for 2024/25 will have taken effect on either 1 January or 1 April, setting (amongst other charges) the level of ship, passenger and goods dues, levied at their respective harbours.

This article explores the statutory powers and other options available to recover or enforce unpaid ship, passenger and goods dues and pilotage charges.