MINISTER FOR Transport Noel Dempsey has directed Arklow Harbour Commissioners to reset its harbour charges to take account of rates in harbours of similar size.
The move comes after complaints about charges at the harbour, which jumped by almost 600 per cent for some vessels last year. Charges for working tugs went up from €30 to €200 a day and the harbour was also charging €120 to fishermen for every catch landed, regardless of size.
The fees compared poorly to similar harbours around the country, such as Wicklow and Kinsale, where working tugs can expect to pay in the region of €12 a day.
The harbour had also changed its method of calculating fees, going from a tonnage-based-only calculation to a tonnage and/or daily set flat fee for some vessels.
The charges were introduced in November 2007 on foot of a harbour rates order signed by the Minister.
In a letter to Paddy Mordaunt, chairman of the commissioners, the department said it was aware there were concerns about some of its rates and it was also aware that the existing 2007 order was "incomplete" because it did not revoke the previous order.
"In the circumstances, the Minister has decided to request Arklow Harbour Commissioners to apply for a new harbour rates order," the letter said.
"The rates proposed in the new order should take account of a comparison of rates in harbours of similar size to Arklow."
The letter, sent at the beginning of November, instructed the commissioners to begin the process without delay.
