Statute Details
- Title: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Scale of Dues, Rates and General Fees) Notification
- Act Code: MPASA1996-N2
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Notification)
- Authorising Act: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act (Chapter 170A), in particular section 27(1), (7) and (8)
- Citation / Gazette No.: G.N. No. S 190/1997 (with revised edition and subsequent amendments)
- Current status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key provisions (as extracted): Sections 2–5 and Schedule (Parts I–VII)
- Most relevant operational topics: Port dues, rates and general fees; rebates/concessions; temporary partial waiver; interest for late payment
What Is This Legislation About?
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Scale of Dues, Rates and General Fees) Notification (“the Notification”) is the legal instrument that sets out how much the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (“MPA”) charges for a wide range of port-related dues, rates, and general fees. In practical terms, it is the “pricing schedule” that underpins many commercial and operational decisions for shipping lines, vessel agents, and other port users.
Rather than creating new regulatory duties on port users, the Notification primarily establishes the monetary framework: what charges apply, who must pay them, when they are due, and what relief mechanisms (such as rebates, concessions, and temporary waivers) may be available. It also provides for interest on late payment, which is important for compliance and cashflow planning.
Because the Notification is updated through amendments over time, practitioners should treat it as a living pricing instrument. The current version (as at 27 March 2026) reflects multiple rounds of legislative adjustment, including changes to definitions, fee categories, and temporary relief measures.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. Definitions and interpretive rules (Section 2). The Notification begins with definitions that control how key terms are understood. For example, it defines “block period” as a period of 10 days or part thereof, “day” as a continuous period of 24 hours, and “GT” as gross tonnage measured under the International Convention of Tonnage Measurement of Ships 1969 (as amended). It also clarifies “fees” by excluding fees payable for the issue or renewal of a licence or permit. These definitions matter because many charges in the Schedule are calculated by reference to time periods (e.g., days or block periods) or vessel measurements (e.g., GT).
From a practitioner’s perspective, the definitions also show how the Notification is designed to align with shipping industry terminology. The inclusion of LNG-related terms (e.g., “LNG”, “FSU”, “FSRU”) indicates that the fee framework covers modern energy-related vessel operations. Similarly, “mixed-use location” and “privately-operated wharf” reflect the port’s operational complexity and the need to distinguish between different types of locations and facilities.
2. Charges, rates and fees: where the amounts are found (Section 3). Section 3 is the core “mechanics” provision. It provides that:
- Section 3(1): the dues payable to MPA are set out in Part I of the Schedule.
- Section 3(2): the rates, charges and fees in Part II of the Schedule are payable to MPA by the persons stated in that Part (unless otherwise stated).
- Section 3(3)–(5): fees under specific subsidiary regulations are also incorporated by reference into the Schedule: Harbour Craft Regulations (Rg 3), Harbour Craft Manning Licence Examination Regulations (Rg 4), and Pleasure Craft Regulations (Rg 6).
Section 3(8) adds an important administrative discretion: where charges may be paid by more than one person, MPA may decide the person or combination of persons who shall pay. This is significant for disputes about liability allocation—e.g., between vessel owners, agents, charterers, or other operational parties. Practitioners should therefore not assume that payment responsibility is always fixed solely by commercial contract; the Notification gives MPA a statutory basis to determine who pays where multiple parties could be liable.
3. Rebates and concessions (Section 4). Section 4 provides that rebates and concessions specified in the Schedule—along with permissions or approvals for paying a lower rate of composite port dues in specified circumstances—may be granted only to a person who has a credit account with MPA. The provision expressly covers lower composite port dues for vessels undergoing repairs, docking, outfitting, maintenance, building or conversion works, and for vessels that are laid-up or awaiting work.
This credit-account requirement is a practical gatekeeping mechanism. Even if a vessel qualifies operationally for a rebate (e.g., it is undergoing repairs), the rebate may not be available unless the relevant party holds the required credit account. For counsel advising shipping clients, this means that eligibility for financial relief is not purely factual; it is also procedural and account-based. Early steps—such as ensuring the correct entity has the credit account—can be crucial to avoid losing relief that might otherwise apply.
4. Temporary partial waiver for certain fees (Section 4A). Section 4A introduces a time-limited relief measure. It provides that, for specified fees in the Schedule, an amount equivalent to 9% of each fee (exclusive of GST) is waived for the period between 1 October 2024 and 31 December 2025 (both dates inclusive). The waiver applies to fees specified in particular paragraphs of the Schedule (as extracted: paragraph 10(b)(i) and (ii); paragraph 12(a) to (d); paragraph 13(f)(i) and (ii), (g)(i) and (ii), and (h)(i) and (ii); and paragraph 14(a) and (b)).
Two points are legally and commercially important. First, the waiver is calculated on the fee amount exclusive of GST, meaning the waiver does not reduce GST itself (rather, it reduces the underlying fee component to which GST would apply). Second, the waiver is limited to a defined set of Schedule paragraphs. Practitioners should therefore verify whether the relevant invoice line items fall within the enumerated paragraphs; otherwise, clients may incorrectly assume the waiver applies broadly.
5. Interest for late payment (Section 5). Section 5 sets the payment timing and consequences. Under Section 5(1), all dues, rates and fees must be paid by such date as may be specified by MPA. Under Section 5(2), interest at 1% per month is levied on dues, rates and fees not paid within the specified period.
For enforcement and dispute management, this provision is central. It establishes a default interest regime that can materially increase the cost of non-compliance. Counsel should also consider how MPA specifies payment dates in practice (e.g., on invoices or demand notices), because the interest clock depends on the “period referred to” in Section 5(1). Where there is a billing dispute, parties may need to act quickly to avoid interest accruing while the underlying liability is contested.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
The Notification is structured as a short set of operative provisions supported by a detailed Schedule. The main components are:
- Section 1 (Citation): provides the short title for referencing the Notification.
- Section 2 (Definitions): defines key terms used throughout the Notification and Schedule.
- Section 3 (Charges, rates and fees): identifies where dues and fees are set out (Part I and Part II) and incorporates fees under other MPA regulations into the Schedule (Parts III–V).
- Section 4 (Rebates and concessions): sets conditions for granting relief, including the credit account requirement.
- Section 4A (Temporary partial waiver): provides a time-limited 9% waiver for specified fees.
- Section 5 (Interest): establishes late payment interest at 1% per month.
- Schedule: contains the actual monetary amounts and categories, organised into multiple Parts (as reflected in the extract: Part I for dues, Part II for rates/charges/fees, and additional Parts for other fee regimes and maritime welfare fees).
In practice, the Schedule is where most legal work occurs: identifying the correct fee category, the correct payer, the applicable calculation basis (e.g., GT, days, block periods), and whether any rebate, concession, or waiver applies.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
The Notification applies to persons who are liable to pay MPA dues, rates and general fees as specified in the Schedule. Section 3(2) makes clear that the Schedule identifies the persons liable for the rates, charges and fees in Part II. This typically includes port users such as vessel owners, vessel agents, and other parties involved in calling at port, using harbour facilities, or engaging in regulated port activities.
Additionally, Section 4 restricts access to rebates and concessions to persons who have an MPA credit account. Therefore, even where a vessel qualifies for a lower composite port dues rate due to operational circumstances (repairs, docking, conversion, laid-up status, etc.), the relief is only available to qualifying account holders. Section 3(8) further allows MPA to determine the person or combination of persons who shall pay where multiple persons could be liable, which can affect contractual arrangements and internal allocation of costs.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
This Notification is important because it directly affects the cost of port operations and the legal consequences of non-payment. For shipping companies and their advisers, the Schedule-driven fee framework influences budgeting, commercial negotiations, and operational planning (including decisions about timing of repairs, docking, and lay-up periods).
From an enforcement and compliance standpoint, the interest regime in Section 5 is a key risk. A 1% per month interest charge can quickly become significant, especially where invoices are disputed or payment processes are delayed. Counsel advising on disputes should therefore consider whether to seek clarification or resolution promptly, and whether any statutory or administrative relief mechanisms exist for the specific fee categories in question.
Finally, the Notification’s relief provisions—rebates/concessions under Section 4 and the temporary partial waiver under Section 4A—create opportunities for cost reduction, but only if the legal and procedural conditions are met. The credit account requirement and the narrow scope of the 9% waiver mean that practitioners must verify eligibility carefully at the invoice and account level, not just at the operational level.
Related Legislation
- Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore Act (Chapter 170A), in particular section 27(1), (7) and (8)
- Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Harbour Craft) Regulations (Rg 3)
- Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Harbour Craft Manning Licence Examination) Regulations (Rg 4)
- Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Pleasure Craft) Regulations (Rg 6)
- Goods and Services Tax Act 1993 (GST definition and treatment referenced in the Notification)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (Scale of Dues, Rates and General Fees) Notification for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.