Calculation of pilotage service charges at Vietnamese seaports from July 1, 2024

Calculation of pilotage service charges at Vietnamese seaports from July 1, 2024 (Internet image)

On May 15, 2024, the Minister of Transport issued Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT on mechanisms and policies for management of service charges at Vietnamese seaports.

Calculation of pilotage service charges at Vietnamese seaports from July 1, 2024

Article 8 of Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT guides the pilotage service charges at Vietnamese seaports as follows:

- Gross tonnage (GT) is one of the fundamental units for pricing of pilotage service, where:

= The gross tonnage of a vessel carrying liquid cargo  shall be 85% of the maximum GT shown in the certificate issued by a registry issued to the vessel as per regulations, regardless of the availability of ballast tanks on such vessel;

= The gross tonnage of a passenger vessel  shall be 50% of the maximum GT shown in the certificate issued by a registry to the vessel as per regulations.

- A carrier has to notify the pilotage organization at least 06 hours prior to its use of the maritime pilotage service and at least 24 hours prior to its use of the pilotage service at an offshore oil rig.  In case of change in pilotage time or cancellation of pilotage service, the carrier must inform the pilotage organization at least 03 hours before the intended time, or 08 hours in case of an offshore oil rig.

- If the pilot is retained after completing the pilotage, the captain of the vessel shall incur an additional wait charge for the duration during which the pilot is retained.

- If the pilot has boarded the vessel but cancel the request of pilotage service, the vessel shall be subject to 80% of the charge for pilotage service commensurate with the requested distance of pilotage according to the charge.

- The charge for pilotage service for a vessel on a voyage to test its machinery or to calibrate its compass shall be 110% of the maximum charge in a given decision of the Minister of Transport.

- In case a vessel is inoperable due to technical issues and a tugboat has to be used, the charge for pilotage service shall be 150% of the maximum charge in a given decision of the Minister of Transport.

- The charge for pilotage service requested ad hoc shall be 110% of the maximum charge in a given decision of the Minister of Transport.

- The pilotage charge for a vessel that moves between the wharves in a port at the request of the director of the port company shall apply the pilotage charges for maritime vessels moving within a port.

- The pilotage charge for a vessel that enters and exits a maritime zone for fuel, food, drinking water, crew replacement, repair, dismantling or test run shall be 70% of the maximum charge in a given decision of the Minister of Transport.

More details can be found in Circular 12/2024/TT-BGTVT, which comes into force from July 1, 2024.

Abolish Circular 39/2023/TT-BGTVT on charge bracket for pilotage, use of wharves, docks and mooring buoys, container handling and towage services at Vietnamese Seaports

To Quoc Trinh

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