Regulator approves tariff hike at Kochi

The Union government-owned Kochi port, India's most expensive in terms of ship calling costs, has got the port tariff regulator's approval to raise vessel-related charges by 40 percent, Euclid Infotech reported.

These charges comprise port dues, berth hire and pilotage, and are levied on shipowners. Customers of the port had opposed the proposed hike because of the already high costs.

But the port’s cost statement reflected an operating deficit of around US$27.6 million, the Tariff Authority for Major Ports said in an order dated April 7.

The regulator, which sets rates for 11 of the 12 ports run by the Union government, has approved an increase of 40 percent in port dues, pilotage and wharfage charge of containers, and 30 percent in berth hire charges.

The new rates will run till March 31 2012.

(Source: Cargo News Asia)