Archived decisions

Contact: Tony Clatworthy, tel 01489 576387 Email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Commercial vessels which visit the River, but do not have a permanent mooring, are liable for Harbour Dues currently set at £0.0702 per gross registered tonne (GRT) plus VAT. This charge has not been reviewed for three years.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That, with effect from 1 January 2008, commercial Harbour Dues charges for visiting commercial vessels should be increased from £0.0702 to £0.0802 for each 24 hour period (or part thereof) - an increase of 14.25%, equating to approximately 4.75% each year since 2004.

3. Background

3.1 The current charges were set on 26 July 2004 at £0.0702 per GRT. The table below shows the current charges along with the proposed increase of 14.25% for the average commercial vessel visiting the River:

* = pays an annual agreed fee

3.2 The Hamble, unlike all other harbours in the Solent, does not charge per passenger. Other harbours charge for each passenger landed, which is calculated for each trip. Other vessels that visit regularly pay an annual licence fee, with a single trip amount for vessels visiting less regularly. It is difficult to equate other Solent harbours' commercial rates as they have dedicated landing facilities that are maintained by the commercial organisation and volumes of commercial traffic are greater. There are also other commercial arrangements and contracts with long term ferry users. The current method of charging by gross registered tonnage is more appropriate for the situation on the Hamble.

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 This report is a formal position statement only and has not been subject to an equalities impact assessment.

5. Conclusion

5.1 This report sets out the current methods of calculating and collecting Harbour Dues for commercial vessels using the facilities of the harbour. The report also proposes a 14.25% increase in these Harbour Dues.