MARINE NOTICE 7 / 2010:
Increase in Protection of the Sea Levy from 1 April 2010
Supersedes Marine Notice 11/2009
The purpose of this Marine Notice is to advise of the increase in the Protection of the Sea Levy operative from 1 April 2010.
The Protection of the Sea Levy is imposed under the Protection of the Sea (Shipping Levy) Act 1981 and the Protection of the Sea (Shipping Levy) Collection Act 1981.
It applies to ships visiting or operating in Australian ports that have a tonnage length not less than 24 metres and have on board 10 tonnes or more of oil in bulk, as fuel or cargo, at any time during a quarter when the vessel was in an Australian port.
The Protection of the Sea (Shipping Levy) Amendment Regulations 2010 increases the levy rate on 1 April 2010 from 11.25 cents to 14.25 cents per net registered ton per quarter. The minimum payment of $10 per quarter remains unchanged.
The levy funds AMSA’s management of the National Plan to Combat Pollution of the Sea by Oil and other Noxious and Hazardous Substances and the National Maritime Emergency Response Arrangements.
Consistent with the potential/actual polluter pays principle, the Australian Government has agreed to increase the levy to recover the pollution-related costs beyond those covered by the polluter.
The rates for AMSA’s other two levies, the Marine Navigation Levy and the Marine Navigation (Regulatory Functions) Levy, remain unaltered.
Further information about the AMSA levies is available on AMSA’s website at: www.amsa.gov.au/levies_and_fees/index.asp
Graham Peachey
Chief Executive Officer
18 March 2010
Australian Maritime Safety Authority
GPO Box 2181,
Canberra City ACT 2601
File No: 2009/695
Internet Address for all current Marine Notices: www.amsa.gov.au