UK MCA announces increases in maritime fees
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) will increase its fees for the first time in over ten years, in order to be flexible to invest further in the services it provides to the maritime sector. Namely, from 13 November 2018, the UK MCA will increase most of its fees across the UK.
The UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) will increase its fees for the first time in over ten years, in order to be flexible to invest further in the services it provides to the maritime sector. Namely, from 13 November 2018, the UK MCA will increase most of its fees across the UK.
The fee increases have been planned in order to introduce some fees in stages to reduce the impact on both businesses and individuals.
Consideration was also given to the impact on small-scale operators. The survey fee increase should only affect 11% of fishing vessels, about 600, as only those 15 metres in length or over need to be surveyed.
The phased increase in fees will cover fees to survey a vessel and the seafarer medical examination fee. The hourly vessel survey rate will increase in two stages:
- From the current £94 per hour to £120 per hour in November 2018;
- From £120 to £147 per hour in November 2019.
As for the Seafarer Medical Examination Fee, it will increase in three stages from £80 to £115. The increases will be from £80 to £95 (November 2018), £95 to £105 (November 2019) and £105 to £115 (November 2020).
All other fees will increase in a single increment from 13 November.
