Increase to fairway dues proposed

Ministry of Transport and Communications
Publication date 5.10.2011 12.13
Press release

The Finnish Government proposes a 12 per cent increase to fairway dues in maritime transport. According to the proposal, the increase should be equally targeted at all payment categories.

The Government submitted its proposal on the increase of fairway dues to Parliament on 5 October, in conjunction with the release of the 2012 budget proposal. The change is meant to enter into force on 1 January 2012.

The reason for the need to increase payments is related to efforts aimed at covering the costs of icebreaking and waterways management by fairway dues. The costs of icebreaking operations, in particular, have gone up because of the two severe winters, and the accrual of fairway dues has remained lower than expected.

The increase would bring additional income of EUR 8.6 million to the State. Despite this, the cost-effectiveness of fairway dues would be no higher than 86.2 per cent.

Further information: Pekka Kouhia, Senior Government Adviser, tel. +358 9 160 28612