Dear Member,
The Halifax Port Authority has published a revised tariff schedule for effect July 1, 2021, as per this LINK. Although the details provided in the schedule are minimal, the main points of interest can be found below:
- Tariff charges for commercial cargo – 1.9% increase
- Harbour dues: 11% increase
- Standard container wharfage rates – $3.00 per box increase
- According to our calculations, this represents an increase of between 5.7% and 7.2 % on the import side and between 4.5% and 6% on the export side (depending on the number and size of containers involved)
- Qualifying US container wharfage rates – $2.00 per box increase
- According to our calculations, this represents an increase of 41.6% for a 20 foot container and 22.35% for a 40 foot container
Our preliminary discussions with the port indicate that the 11 percent increase in harbour dues is related to the cost of developing a new information management system that is designed to digitize many of the port’s operations (although we are still awaiting a more detailed breakdown of costs from the port in this respect).
Given that stakeholders have 60 days in which to provide comments to the port, we are seeking input from members on the impact of the proposed increase on their activities, and on any other aspect of the revised tariff they wish to address.
We will use the input we receive from members to inform our comments to the port, which we plan to submit by early June at the latest.
Sincerely,
Karen Kancens
Vice President