The Merchant Shipping (Light Dues) Regulations 2025
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Change 1
5 Payments per voyage
(1) A ship which is not a tug, fishing vessel or a pleasure vessel is liable to pay light dues in accordance with paragraph (2) in respect of a voyage which ends at a port in the United Kingdom. (2) The amount of light dues per voyage must be calculated on the basis of the tonnage of the ship— (a) from 1st April 2026 at the rate of 46 pence per ton subject to— (i) a minimum charge of £60, and (ii) a maximum charge of £23,000; (b) from 1st April 2027 at the rate of 47 pence per ton subject to— (i) a minimum charge of £60, and (ii) a maximum charge of £23,500. (3) Where a ship has paid light dues under paragraph (1) in respect of a voyage it is not required to pay light dues in respect of any subsequent voyage in any period of one month commencing with the last preceding relevant date. (4) In any year, a ship must not be required by a general lighthouse authority, or its authorised collector, to make payments of light dues for more than nine voyages in total. (5) A voyage of a ship must be reckoned from port to port. (6) For the purposes of this regulation— (a) where a ship’s tonnage is not a multiple of one ton, any excess not exceeding half a ton must be rounded down and any excess over half a ton must be rounded up to the nearest ton; (b) where an amount payable is not a multiple of a penny, the excess must be rounded down to the nearest penny; (c) “month” means a month commencing with the relevant date; (d) “relevant date” means the date on which a ship arrives at a port or place on a voyage in respect of which light dues have been paid or are payable.
5 Payments per voyage
(1) A ship which is not a tug, fishing vessel or a pleasure vessel is liable to pay light dues in accordance with paragraph (2) in respect of a voyage which ends at a port in the United Kingdom. (2) The amount of light dues per voyage must be calculated on the basis of the tonnage of the ship— (a) from 1st April 2026 at the rate of 46 pence per ton subject to— (i) a minimum charge of £60, and (ii) a maximum charge of £23,000; (b) from 1st April 2027 at the rate of 47 pence per ton subject to— (i) a minimum charge of £60, and (ii) a maximum charge of £23,500. (3) Where a ship has paid light dues under paragraph (1) in respect of a voyage it is not required to pay light dues in respect of any subsequent voyage in any period of one month commencing with the last preceding relevant date. (4) In any year, a ship must not be required by a general lighthouse authority, or its authorised collector, to make payments of light dues for more than nine voyages in total. (5) A voyage of a ship must be reckoned from port to port. (6) For the purposes of this regulation— (a) where a ship’s tonnage is not a multiple of one ton, any excess not exceeding half a ton must be rounded down and any excess over half a ton must be rounded up to the nearest ton; (b) where an amount payable is not a multiple of a penny, the excess must be rounded down to the nearest penny; (c) “month” means a month commencing with the relevant date; (d) “relevant date” means the date on which a ship arrives at a port or place on a voyage in respect of which light dues have been paid or are payable.
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