Port Dept. reviewing fee structure, may consider increases

As the government seeks more ways to increase revenue in this economic climate, Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) Senior Commander Berne Wright, acting port controller, yesterday said the Port Department is in the process of reviewing current boating, shipping and docking fees with a view of increasing them.

“We look at the fees as it relates to industry standards and where there needs to be an increase, we will do that. We are reviewing what needs to be increased right now,” Wright said in an interview with Guardian Business.

“We’re looking at all the fees. Some of them are quite old. For example, the fee for a dock is $2 a foot, so they pay like $7 a day to tie up. So we’re looking at all of the fees, not just one area. We are looking at the fee structure with the view of increasing some of them.

Asked how The Bahamas’ fee structure compares with similar high traffic boating destinations, Wright said, “In terms of fees, I would say there needs to be an adjustment, they’re not where they should be.”

Wright spoke with Guardian Business following the announcement of the Port Department’s new online portal, which allows for electronic applications to be submitted and paid for online.

The new platform comes a month after the launch of the SeaZPass, which was created by OMNI Financial Group in partnership with the Association of Bahamas Marinas (ABM) to digitally collect charter fees from mega yachts and other charter operators in The Bahamas.

“The difference is the SeaZPass is specific to the four percent foreign charter. This online solution captures all of the port services that we would offer. The SeaZPass runs parallel,” Wright said about the new government digital service.

The Port Department is responsible for the issuing of charter licenses and the collection of charter fees.

The department collected a total of $1.8 million in revenue for boating and marine licenses during the 2019/2020 fiscal year, according to the annual budget tabled in Parliament last June.

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source https://thenassauguardian.com/port-dept-reviewing-fee-structure-may-consider-increases/