By Vanessa Knight – EM TV, Port Moresby
The PNG National Maritime Safety Authority is coming down hard on local shipping agents, to pay up on fees levied on foreign-owned vessels.
Following a recent influx of overseas vessels entering PNG waters, the non-compliance of paid levies has reached the attention of the maritime-governing body.
The Navigational Age Levy and the Statutory Functions Levy are two fees which are supposed to be invoiced on each foreign vessel that enters PNG waters, calculated at K60 per gross tonnage.
NMSA Maritime Standards & Compliance Manager, Joseph Pyawan says, these fees are included in agency fees paid by incoming foreign shipping companies to agents, who must then pay NMSA.
However, he explained that agents are either refusing to pay, or failing to report incoming vessels to avoid paying the fees.
Pyawan cautioned that this could result in the detaining of these foreign vessels, which could cause local companies to lose clients to foreign-owned shipping agencies.
He explained that this is a regular occurrence in most Maritime Provinces and it must cease immediately.
The Standards and Compliance Manager encouraged local shipping agents to comply with rules and regulations, to avoid any altercation with the maritime governing body.
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