The port tariffs paid by sea-going vessels in Rotterdam will increase by 0.3 percent next year, according to the Port of Rotterdam, equivalent to half the rate of inflation over the past year.

“The adjustment is in line with the three-year agreement made by Deltalinqs, VRC, VNPI and the Port of Rotterdam Authority regarding the development of Rotterdam’s port tariffs,” the port said.

Two years ago, when the deal was signed, the parties agreed to let tariffs increase at a moderate pace for a period of three years, by half the rate of inflation, to a maximum of 1% per year.

Additionally, the port said that it has taken a number of targeted measures intended to stimulate specific segments.

In the containers sector, the Port Authority is focusing its attention on increasing the number of transshipment containers handled at the port. After entering the port on board a sea-going vessel, these containers are immediately relayed at the terminal to a different vessel, which will take them by sea to another European port.

The aim of these measures is to “lure companies in this sector to substantially increase the volume of transshipment cargo relayed via Rotterdam.”

Furthermore, the Port Authority will be maintaining the existing incentive for container vessels to call on Rotterdam twice during the European leg of their itinerary.

The port tariff that is charged to deepsea container vessels for a second call on Rotterdam is 25 percent of the normal tariff.

In accordance with the three-year agreement made with VNPI two years ago, the 2017 tariff for tankers transporting crude oil will once again be 1.5 percent lower than the adjusted ‘general’ sea port tariffs. In concrete terms, this means that in 2017, the tariff for crude oil tankers will be lowered by 1.2 percent.

The port said that 2017 will be the third consecutive year that the tariff for crude oil tankers decreases compared to the previous year.

“Rotterdam will maintain its existing discount for clean vessels based on the Environmental Ship Index (ESI). Vessels that score at least 31 points on this index will receive a 10 percent discount on the ship’s portion of the port tariff. Moreover, this discount will be multiplied by two if the vessel releases relatively low nitrogen emissions,” the port said.