The Virgin Islands Port Authority announced on Friday that the mooring rate and the taxi fee at the territory’s seaports would see increases come January 1, 2017. The announcement follows public hearing in November held on St. Thomas and St. Croix, which covered the two proposed changes to the V.I.P.A.’s general rate structure that were approved at its September 11 and November 16 board meetings.
The changes are:
- An increase of docking fees from $.60 to $1.
- An increase in off-site taxi pick-up rates from $6 to $7 at seaports.
In addition to the new fees, V.I.P.A. Executive Director Carlton Dowe reminded the public of two additional fees that were changed in the tariff and were implemented on Oct. 1, 2016:
- The unified cruise ship tariff for the St. Thomas/St. John District, where cruise ships will now pay $6.60 in port dues and $6.80 in wharfage; increased from $11.40 to $13.40 overall. In addition, cruise ships once berthed in St. Croix for free since 2002, are now charged $2.45 in port dues and $2.55 in wharfage; totaling $5.00.
- Water tour operators that have agreements with the cruise lines now pay $1.50 per passenger, and those without contracts pay $5 per passenger. (New fee)
“For the most part, those people that attended expressed their appreciation of the improvements we have completed thus far,” Mr. Dowe said. “They also understood our need to increase our fees to generate additional revenues as there are still several major capital projects to be completed at all our seaports territory-wide.”
V.I.P.A.’s marine tariff is available online at www.viport.com. For more information, contact VIPA’s public relations office at (340) 774-1629.
Feature Image: Aerial view of the Ann E. Abramson Pier in Frederiksted. (Credit: ALYK)
Tags: carlton dowe, us virgin islands, virgin islands port authority
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