New legislation to increase the fees for some services from the Department of Marine and Ports were approved in the House of Assembly on Monday.

Wayne Furbert, the Minister of Transport, said the Marine and Ports (Pilotage Dues) Regulations 2023, Marine and Ports (Seaborne Services) Regulations 2023 and the Marine and Ports (Port Dues) Regulations 2023 would increase fees under the regulations by 5 per cent.

Mr Furbert told the House the fee changes would apply to a variety of services offered to international shipping companies, including piloting services, berthing services, tug services and port services.

“The various services are vital for our maritime industry to ensure the safe transport of goods and people from other jurisdictions,” he said.

Susan Jackson, the Shadow Minister of Transport, said that while the change was a tax increase, it should not affect smaller local boats.

She added that she hoped some of the funds raised by the increase would go back into the services themselves.

“If we are looking at increasing pilotage fees, I hope that next year when we are looking at our budget books we will see a reflection of some of the increase in the programmes and support that the pilots provide,” she said.

“They do go out on a limb in sometimes dangerous situations in order to make sure that these international ships are able to negotiate through our complicated waters with the reefs and such.”