Special Port Service Charge for U.S. Vessels to be Implemented Starting Today

The Ministry of Transport issued the "Implementation Measures for the Special Port Service Charge for U.S. Vessels" on October 14. The Measures consist of ten articles, which will take effect from the date of release. They mainly include the basis for formulation, scope of collection, collection standards, collecting entities, number of voyages for payment, payment requirements, information verification, handling of violations, dynamic adjustment, interpretation department, and implementation time. It further clarifies specific provisions that vessels built in China, empty vessels entering only Chinese shipyards for repairs, and other vessels recognized as exempt are exempt from payment.

The Measures propose specific requirements for vessel operators or their agents to report information to maritime management authorities before the vessel arrives at a Chinese port. The scope, standards, and start and end times for the collection will be dynamically adjusted according to circumstances. Details are as follows:

Article 1: To implement the requirements of the announcement on the special port service charge for U.S. vessels, based on regulations such as the "Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport," to safeguard the interests of China's shipping industry, these measures are formulated.

Article 2: Vessels engaged in international maritime transport, berthing at Chinese ports, and meeting any of the following conditions shall pay the special port service charge:

(1) Vessels owned by U.S. enterprises, organizations, or individuals;

(2) Vessels operated by U.S. enterprises, organizations, or individuals;

(3) Vessels owned or operated by enterprises or organizations that directly or indirectly hold 25% or more equity (voting rights, board seats) by U.S. enterprises, organizations, or individuals;

(4) Vessels flying the U.S. flag;

(5) Vessels built in the United States.

Vessels built in China under the first to fourth items above are exempt from payment. Empty vessels entering only Chinese shipyards for repairs, and other vessels recognized as exempt are also exempt from payment.

Article 3: The specific collection standards for the special port service charge are as follows (with less than 1 net ton counted as 1 net ton):

(1) For vessels berthing at Chinese ports starting from October 14, 2025, it is charged at 400 RMB per net ton;

(2) For vessels berthing at Chinese ports starting from April 17, 2026, it is charged at 640 RMB per net ton;

(3) For vessels berthing at Chinese ports starting from April 17, 2027, it is charged at 880 RMB per net ton;

(4) For vessels berthing at Chinese ports starting from April 17, 2028, it is charged at 1120 RMB per net ton.

A single vessel shall not pay the special port service charge for more than five voyages within one year. April 17 each year is the starting day of the annual billing cycle.

Article 4: The special port service charge for vessels shall be collected by the maritime management authority located in the port where the vessel is moored, and managed and used in accordance with national regulations.

Article 5: If a vessel visits multiple Chinese ports during the same voyage, the special port service charge shall be paid only at the first port of call. Vessels visiting more than five ports in a year shall pay the special port service charge for the first five voyages, and subsequent voyages shall not be charged if the payment information of the first five voyages is available.

Article 6: Vessel operators or their agents shall truthfully report to the local maritime management authority at the port about the country of construction, the flag state, the owner, the operator, the leasing situation, and the ports planned to visit in this voyage, seven days before the vessel is expected to arrive at a Chinese port (if the voyage is less than seven days, when leaving the previous port). The special port service charge shall also be paid.

Article 7: The local maritime management authority at the port shall verify all incoming vessel situations. If it is found that there is suspected false reporting or omission of the vessel information listed in Article 6, the authority shall require the vessel operator or its agent to make up the report.

Article 8: Vessels that violate these measures and fail to pay the special port service charge as required shall not be allowed to handle the entry and exit procedures by the maritime management authority.

If the vessel operator or its agent evades the payment of the special port service charge, the vessel shall make up the unpaid fees before the next call at a Chinese port, if it has already left the Chinese port.

Article 9: The scope, standards, and start and end times for the collection of the special port service charge may be dynamically adjusted as circumstances change.

Article 10: These measures shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Transport and shall come into force from the date of release.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845910026395648/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.