• Date:
  • Category: News

On October 14, 2025, China's Ministry of Transport issued the "Implementation Measures for the Collection of Special Port Dues on U.S. Vessels." The Measures consist of ten articles and will take effect on the date of promulgation. The details are as follows:

Article 1: These Measures are formulated to implement the requirements of the Announcement on the Collection of Special Port Dues on U.S. Vessels, in accordance with the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on International Maritime Transport and other laws and regulations, and to safeguard the interests of the development of my country's shipping industry.

Article 2: Vessels engaged in international maritime transport, berthing at Chinese ports, and meeting any of the following conditions shall be subject to payment of Special Port Dues by the shipowner or its agent:
(1) Vessels owned by U.S. enterprises, other organizations, or individuals;
(2) Vessels operated by U.S. enterprises, other organizations, or individuals;
(3) Vessels owned or operated by enterprises, other organizations, or individuals in which U.S. enterprises, other organizations, or individuals directly or indirectly hold 25% or more of the equity (voting rights, board seats);
(4) Vessels flying the U.S. flag;
(5) Vessels built in the United States.

Vessels built in China as described in items 1 to 4 of the preceding paragraph are exempt from payment. Lay-behind vessels entering Chinese shipyards solely for repairs, as well as other vessels approved for exemption, are exempt from payment.

Article 3: The specific standards for collecting special port dues for vessels are as follows (vessels less than one net ton will be rounded up to one net ton):
(1) Starting from October 14, 2025, a fee of RMB 400 per net ton will be charged;
(2) Starting from April 17, 2026, a fee of RMB 640 per net ton will be charged;
(3) Starting from April 17, 2027, a fee of RMB 880 per net ton will be charged;
(4) Starting from April 17, 2028, a fee of RMB 1,120 per net ton will be charged.

A single vessel may be charged special port dues for no more than five voyages in a year. April 17 of each year shall be the starting date of the annual billing cycle.

Article 4: Special port dues for vessels shall be collected by the maritime administration of the port where the vessel calls, and shall be managed and used in accordance with relevant national regulations.

Article 5: If a vessel calls at multiple Chinese ports on the same voyage, the special port dues shall be paid only at the first port of call. For vessels calling at Chinese ports on more than five voyages in a year, the special port dues shall be paid for the first five voyages. Subsequent voyages shall be exempted from the dues based on the payment information for the first five voyages.

Article 6: The vessel owner or its agent shall, seven days before the vessel's scheduled arrival at a Chinese port (or upon departure from the last port if the voyage is less than seven days), truthfully notify the maritime administration of the port where the vessel is located of the vessel's country of construction, national flag, owner, operator, lease status, and the intended port of call for the voyage, and pay the special port dues.

Article 7: The maritime administration of the port where the vessel is located shall verify the information of all vessels expected to arrive at the port. If any vessel information listed in Article 6 is suspected of being concealed or omitted, the vessel owner or its agent shall be required to submit the supplementary information.

Article 8: Maritime Administrations shall not process entry and exit procedures for vessels that violate these Measures and fail to pay the Special Port Fees as required. If a vessel owner or its agent evades payment of Special Port Fees, any vessel that has already departed a Chinese port must pay the outstanding fees before its next port call.

Article 9: The scope, standards, and start and end times of Special Port Fees collection will be adjusted dynamically as appropriate.

Article 10: These Measures shall be interpreted by the Ministry of Transport and shall come into force on the date of promulgation.