Matson’s Two Vessels Pay Special Port Dues! Calling at Ningbo/Shanghai Ports Respectively!

On October 14, the Implementation Measures for Collecting Special Port Dues from U.S.-Related Vessels issued by China’s Ministry of Transport officially took effect.

In response, Matson Navigation issued a Customer Notice, stating that it will not impose additional new surcharges on customers for this fee.

According to industry sources, two container ships owned by Matson Navigation—MANUKAI and MATSON WAIKIKI—called at China’s Ningbo Port and Shanghai Port respectively. The two ships will face a total port fee bill of up to RMB 16.54 million.

Among them, the MANUKAI is reported to have become the first ship to be charged the "Special Port Dues" during its call at Ningbo Port, with the amount being RMB 4,458,400 (approximately USD 627,900).

The other vessel, WAIKIKI (with a capacity of 4,884 TEUs), called at Shanghai Port. In accordance with the fee standards announced by China’s Ministry of Transport, its 30,224 net tons will be charged RMB 12.09 million in Special Port Dues, making it the first U.S.-related ship to pay this fee at Shanghai Port.

It is understood that recently, when declaring the entry of internationally navigating ships, all ports require the ship operator or its agent to report in advance seven days and submit the Ship Information Report Form for U.S.-Related Vessels.

It is also learned that some ports further require the simultaneous upload or preparation of documents for inspection, including the ship’s certificate of nationality, proof of ownership, Safety Management Certificate (SMC), Document of Compliance (DOC), classification certificate, and Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR).