Shipping lines demand cheaper light dues
Lobby group calls for phased reduction in fees for maintenance of UK lighthouses
A group of the world’s biggest shipping lines are demanding a reduction in the fees they pay towards the maintenance of UK lighthouses.
The Independent Light Dues Forum (ILDF), which includes APL (UK), HMM, K Line (Europe), Maersk, MOL, NYK and Grimaldi, said the UK government should deliver a light dues reduction in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The ILDF believes that this position could be achieved through three mechanisms: reducing the £15 million (US$23m) subsidy to the Republic of Ireland to help it maintain its navigation aids by 31 March; the recommendations in the recently published Atkins report are implemented; and the UK’s general lighthouse authority (GLA) services are incrementally outsourced.
The Chairman of the ILDF, Mark Bookham, said: “The shipowners have been hit by three successive light dues increases and now it is time for the GLAs, the Joint Strategic Board [set up seek efficiencies at the GLAs] and the UK government to act decisively and deliver a more efficient service.
“We are entering a crucial time in the budget-planning process and the new government has a window of opportunity to come good on the promises they made in opposition.”
The ILDF said it was “heartened” by a recent meeting with Shipping Minister Mike Penning, who offered a personal commitment to tackle a number of issues, including:
• Establishing a clear timetable for ceasing the Irish Subsidy; speedy implementation of the bulk of the Atkins proposals in Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland, to markedly improve the efficiency of the service;
• Imposing clear cost and value controls on the GLAs in line with other Government agencies;
• Making the contents of the General Lighthouse Fund subject to the same rigorous controls and supervision as any expenditure funded by UK taxpayers.
Over the past couple of years, there has been a lot of debate surrounding increases in navigation aid fees (light dues), as the amount shipping lines must contribute increased from 35p per net registered tonne to 45p.
The Independent Light Dues Forum (ILDF), which includes APL (UK), HMM, K Line (Europe), Maersk, MOL, NYK and Grimaldi, said the UK government should deliver a light dues reduction in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The ILDF believes that this position could be achieved through three mechanisms: reducing the £15 million (US$23m) subsidy to the Republic of Ireland to help it maintain its navigation aids by 31 March; the recommendations in the recently published Atkins report are implemented; and the UK’s general lighthouse authority (GLA) services are incrementally outsourced.
The Chairman of the ILDF, Mark Bookham, said: “The shipowners have been hit by three successive light dues increases and now it is time for the GLAs, the Joint Strategic Board [set up seek efficiencies at the GLAs] and the UK government to act decisively and deliver a more efficient service.
“We are entering a crucial time in the budget-planning process and the new government has a window of opportunity to come good on the promises they made in opposition.”
The ILDF said it was “heartened” by a recent meeting with Shipping Minister Mike Penning, who offered a personal commitment to tackle a number of issues, including:
• Establishing a clear timetable for ceasing the Irish Subsidy; speedy implementation of the bulk of the Atkins proposals in Assessment of the Provision of Marine Aids to Navigation around the United Kingdom and Ireland, to markedly improve the efficiency of the service;
• Imposing clear cost and value controls on the GLAs in line with other Government agencies;
• Making the contents of the General Lighthouse Fund subject to the same rigorous controls and supervision as any expenditure funded by UK taxpayers.
Over the past couple of years, there has been a lot of debate surrounding increases in navigation aid fees (light dues), as the amount shipping lines must contribute increased from 35p per net registered tonne to 45p.
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