DISCOUNTS ON PORT DUES FOR FREQUENT CRUISE CALLS IN KLAIPĖDA PORT
For the third year in a row, Klaipeda Port introduces amendments which provide cruise vessels a reduction of port dues and discounts for frequent calls. On 19/03/2010, the amendments to Regulations of Klaipeda State Seaport Dues come into force: they provide cruise vessels a 20% discount on all port dues on 2nd and 3rd call (during the calendar year) and a 50 % discount for the 4th and further calls.
Klaipeda port is flexible to adjust to a fast-changing economic environment and to assist cruise shipping stakeholders during the worldwide economic downturn. This is the third year that Klaipeda port has introduced an amendment to reduce port dues and to grant discounts to cruise vessels.
From the 1st of July 2008, the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport agreed on the proposal of Klaipeda State Seaport Authority and introduced the amendments to Regulations on Klaipėda State Seaport Dues. These amendments provided for discounts on port dues to cruise vessels for multiple calls: 20 % from the 4th to the 8th call (during the calendar year), 50 % from the 9th and further calls.
Very important steps were taken in 2009. Responding to the requests of the cruise lines, Klaipeda State Seaport Authority addressed the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport to reduce the port dues for large cruise vessels and to introduce further discounts for multiple calls. Therefore, from 06/09/2009, the amendments to Regulations on Klaipėda State Seaport Dues were introduced. According to these amendments, the port dues for cruise vessels larger than 50,000 GT are calculated on the maximum rate of 50,000 GT. Furthermore, a 20 % discount is granted on the ports dues from the 3rd to 8th call (during the calendar year season).
The cruise season of 2010 started with even more favourable conditions for cruise lines. On 19/03/2010, there were further regulatory amendments which provide for a 20 % discount on all types of port dues (i.e. vessel, navigation, port waters and sanitary dues) for cruise vessels on the 2nd and the 3rd calls (during the calendar year) and 50 % discount on the 4th and further calls.
Klaipeda Port keeps close contacts with the cruise shipping stakeholders, regularly receives their proposals on port services, costs, etc., and advises the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport on further improvements. A number of legal steps have been taken in this respect: regulatory changes help the cruise lines to decrease operational costs. |
