New fees to be
implemented
PHILIPSBURG--The new bridge fees as amended by the Island Council during Monday’s public meeting will go into effect as of January 1, 2008. The hike in fees is intended to provide Simpson Bay Lagoon Authority Corporation (SLAC) with increased revenue to make necessary investments in, for example, the Simpson Bay bridge.
Simpson Bay Lagoon legally still falls under the St. Maarten Ports Authority and therefore two laws had to be amended to make the increase in fees possible: the bridge fees ordinance of 1994 and the St. Maarten bridge fees ordinance of 1984.
The new departure fees, commonly called bridge fees, for cruise ships (megayachts) per one-week stay or part thereof will be NAf. 18 for vessels with a length of nine metres or more but fewer than 14 metres; NAf. 27 for vessels with a length of 14 metres or more but fewer than 20 metres; NAf. 45 for vessels with a length of 20 metres or more but fewer than 28 metres; NAf. 81 for vessels with a length of 28 metres or more but fewer than 36 metres; NAf. 153 for vessels with a length of 36 metres or more. For all other vessels the fee will be NAf. 18.
The new harbour fees that are due for passenger ships or yachts per one-week stay or part thereof will be NAf. 36 for vessels with a length of 8 metres or more but fewer than 13 metres; NAf. 72 for vessels with a length of 13 metres or more but fewer than 18 metres; NAf. 108 for vessels with a length of 18 metres or more but fewer than 23 metres; NAf. 162 for vessels with a length of 23 metres or more but fewer than 28 metres; NAf. 216 for vessels with a length of 28 metres or more but fewer than 33 metres; NAf. 270 for vessels with a length of 33 metres or more but fewer than 39 metres; NAf. 324 for vessels with a length of 38 metres or more but fewer than 43 metres.
