Revised Rules Enhance Control Measures and Improve Service Efficiencies in Port of Kaohsiung Anchorage Areas; New Anchorage Fee Schedule Effective from January 1st.

Revisions to the Regulations Governing the Anchorage of Vessels in Kaohsiung International Commercial Port announced in 2024 and the January 1st (2025) implementation of a new Anchorage Fee Schedule have both been made to improve and strengthen the management of vessels anchoring in designated anchorage areas within the Port of Kaohsiung. The rules now more comprehensively address the fees associated with special circumstances such as multiple anchorages, rules violations, dishonest reporting, and vessels with seaworthiness concerns during anchorage period as well as enact measures to further enhance related safety and efficiencies within Port of Kaohsiung's designated anchorage areas.

The primary objective of Port of Kaohsiung's 2024 revisions to the abovementioned anchorage regulations is to reduce the incidence of long-duration anchorages by limiting the anchorage period for vessels to a maximum of 7 days per stay and requiring vessels in need of additional time in port to heave anchor and submit a new request to anchor. These revisions are also designed to further improve vessel safety in anchorage areas by enhancing vigilance for vessels with structural / performance issues as well as optimizing the availability and fair allocation of anchorage area resources. Furthermore, rules for temporary anchorage have also been added, with vessels seeking emergency anchorage now required to submit a special application, and all anchored vessels required to keep a listening watch on the assigned VHF channel with the VTS and provide vessel status information upon request.

To ensure fair access to and strengthen safety within Port of Kaohsiung anchorage areas, Port of Kaohsiung is now assessing an additional demurrage charge on vessels that do not enter the port but extend their anchorage beyond the 7 day maximum and a markup charge on vessels that apply to anchor again within 72 hours of heaving anchor. Furthermore, in the interests of ensuring safe operations in anchorage areas, in addition to establishing temporary anchoring positions and related control measures, vessels applying for permission to anchor within the designated anchorage area for repairs will have their anchorage fees for the first 3 hours waived, after which fees will be calculated at a rate equal to twice the standard anchorage assessment. The aforementioned changes all became effective on January 1st, 2025.
Port of Kaohsiung appreciates the support and cooperation of its shipping company and shipping agent customers with regard to these revised measures and regulations. The port will continue discussing and working closely with related agencies to further refine and streamline the implementation of these measures to effectively monitor and manage the status of anchored vessels and maintain the highest levels of anchorage-area and navigational safety within port waters.

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