Press release: Maritime fees increase will bring extra investment for services

From 13 November 2018, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) will increase most of its fees across the whole of the UK.

The fee increases have been carefully planned, with a public consultation carried out in 2016, so industry and all those affected have been involved every step of the way. As a result of this active consultation with industry, it was agreed to introduce some fees in stages to reduce the impact on both businesses and individuals.

Consideration was also given to the impact on small-scale operators. The survey fee increase should only affect 11% of fishing vessels – about 600 – as only those 15 metres in length or over need to be surveyed.

How the fee increases work

A phased increase in fees will cover fees to survey a vessel and the seafarer medical examination fee.

The hourly vessel survey rate will increase in two stages:
i) from the current £94 per hour to £120 per hour in November 2018;
ii) from £120 to £147 per hour in November 2019.

The Seafarer Medical Examination Fee will increase in three stages from £80 to £115. The increases will be from £80 to £95 (November 2018), £95 to £105 (November 2019) and £105 to £115 (November 2020).

All other fees will increase in a single increment from 13 November. You can find out more information about the MCA’s fees increases on our main fees page.