The Marine Board (Seaborne Services) Regulations, The Marine Board (Pilotage Dues) Amendment Regulations, The Marine Board (Light Tolls) Regulations, The Marine and Ports Authority (Port Dues) Amendment Regulations and The Marine Board Amendment Act were all passed by the Senate.

Government Senate leader Gary Pitman told Senators that a review of seaborne services revealed that operating expenses exceeded revenue by some $2.1 million.

Seaborne services include tug boat services, tenders for ferries and work boat services.

Sen. Pitman said the increased fees for those services ranged from five to six percent. The regulation will also make the price for tug boats the same, regardless of size.

Meanwhile the Marine Board (Pilotage Dues) Amendment Regulations will increase the dues for pilot service for St. George's by five-and-a-half percent and for Dockyard and Hamilton by five percent.

Sen. Pitman said The Marine Board (Light Tolls) Regulations will affect all vessels since every ship pays the due.

He said the funds helped pay for such things as the lighthouses, beacons and the new radar system for Harbour Radio.

The increase in dues will range from five to six-and-a-half percent depending on the vessel and the reason for their visit to a local port.

The charged levied to maintain the Island's channels, as outlined in the Marine and Ports Authority (Port Dues) Amendment Regulation will see an increase of between five and six percent.

And Sen. Pitman told Senators that the Marine Board Amendment Act addressed three issues -- barges, late penalties and ministerial authority.

The act will change the classification of a barge, now registered as a leisure boat, to allow safety inspections to be carried out.

Sen. Pitman said the act will give the Marine Minister the power to regulate any boats and will establish a late penalty payment surcharge of ten percent for late tolls and dues.

Opposition Senate Leader Milton Scott suggested that the Government provide a "break'' for cruise ships that use tender ferry services to transport passengers into Hamilton -- in a bid to protect Dockyard.

"May be we have to look at subsidies,'' he said, since Bermuda was the most expensive destination in terms of the taxes associated in coming to the Island.