Shipping (Fees) (No.2) (Jersey) Order 2008

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A decision made (11.12.2008) to make the Shipping (Fees) (No.2) (Jersey) Order 2008

Decision Reference: MD-E-2008-0234
Decision Summary Title :	Ship Registration Fees		Date of Decision Summary:	4 December 2008
Decision Summary Author:	Registrar of Shipping		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	Registrar of Shipping
Written Report Title :	Shipping Fees Order		Date of Written Report:	28 November 2008
Written Report Author:	Registrar of Shipping		Written Report : Public or Exempt? (State clauses from Code of Practice booklet)	Public
Subject: Registration of British Ships – new fee structure.
Decision(s): The Minister made the Shipping (Fees) (No. 2) (Jersey) Order 2008
Reason(s) for Decision: The British Registry of Ships is expected to function on a user-pays, nil net cost, basis. A review of the fees found imbalances in the structure and it was clear that overall the service would make a loss without some significant changes. Staffing and resource costs are already at a bare minimum and so do not offer sensible alternative ways of breaking even. The decision is made on the basis that out of a total of 38 different items, fees will increase in just 8 of these. Additionally, in order to bring some stability and predictability to the fee structure it is intended to hold all Registry fees for three years from 2009.
Resource Implications: The Treasurer of the States has approved the changes, which are aimed at balancing the Registry budget. There are no new financial, property, ICT or human resources issues arising.
Action required: Following the Ministerial Decision, the States Greffe will be requested to progress, publish and archive the Order in the normal way.
Signature: Senator P.F.C.Ozouf		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Shipping (Fees) (No.2) (Jersey) Order 2008

SHIPPING (FEES) (NO.2) (JERSEY) ORDER 200-

Report

The British Registry of Ships is expected to function on a user-pays, nil net cost, basis. A review of the fees found imbalances in the structure and it was clear that overall the service would make a loss without some significant changes. Staffing and resource costs are already at a bare minimum and so do not offer sensible alternative ways of breaking even. The key points are as follows:

1. Small Ships Register (SSR): Local boat owners are only required to obtain the certificate if they are going away and if they are not already registered on the main British Register, the latter being at a basic cost of £302 excluding survey fees. The SSR fee is currently just £22 for a five-year certificate and this will rise to £50. Although a substantial increase it will more accurately reflect the cost of the work. Having said that, as a concession to local owners who may need to obtain or renew a certificate in the first half of the year, this change will only come into effect on 1 June 2009 rather than 1 January. Yacht Clubs and boat owner associations have all been informed and recommended to advise members to renew early where possible so as to benefit from the old rate.

2. Provisional Registration (main British Register) and fast track certification (Small Ships Register): The fees are currently just £28 and £44 respectively. These applications require immediate attention and temporarily supplant other duties. £95 would put them in line with the transfer or transmission of mortgages which already costs £95 and involve a similar amount of work.

3. Change of name on the main British Ship Register – Currently set at £28, the work is more closely aligned to the issue of a duplicate certificate which costs £37. Both rates will therefore be brought together and set at £37.

4. Overall, out of a total of 38 different items, fees will increase in just 8 of these. Additionally, in order to bring some stability and predictability to the fee structure it is intended to hold all Registry fees for three years from 2009.

28 November 2008