Fees at Arklow harbour 'exorbitant'

“EXORBITANT” CHARGES at Arklow harbour in Co Wicklow are driving out commercial trade, Fine Gael TD Andrew Doyle has said.

Rates at Arklow harbour jumped by almost 600 per cent for some vessels in the last year, with charges for working tugs going up from €30 to €200 a day.

The harbour is also charging €120 to fishermen for every catch landed, regardless of size.

The fees compare poorly to similar harbours around the country, such as Wicklow and Kinsale, where working tugs can expect to pay in the region of €12 a day.

The harbour has also changed its method of calculating fees, going from a tonnage-based only calculation to a tonnage and/or daily set flat fee for some vessels.

Fees are set by the Arklow Harbour Commissioners, one of 10 such State-owned port commercial companies around the country, and are approved by the Minister for Transport.

One company, Irish Shipping, which has monitored and serviced wind turbines on Arklow bank since 2004, said it left the harbour following the increase in charges.

Tim Greenwood, co-owner of Irish Shipping, said the company would have faced an annual bill of €73,000 had it stayed.

He said commercial vessels all over the world are charged on tonnage because it represents their ability to pay based upon their earning capacity.

“The type and manner of charging in the latest harbour rates goes against the ethic of the Irish Harbours Acts and has been dreamed up by Arklow Harbour Commissioners,” he said.

“The increase for service vessels and fishing vessels is seen in both industries as a cynical move to close down those businesses and clear the way for leisure and apartment development in the port.”

Mr Greenwood said the company is now operating out of Wicklow harbour, where the fees are much lower. However, the move has meant the company’s work boat must go against the tide to get to and from the turbines, adding two hours to its journey.

Mr Doyle said he was very concerned about the viability of the service industry in Arklow port and about the resulting effect on the wind farm on Arklow banks.

He said the increase in charges for specific vessels of a certain category might suggest that a mistake has been made in the calculations.

“This industry is a great resource and long established in the Arklow area and it should be given every assistance to ensure its future viability,” he said.

The chairman of the Arklow Harbour Commissioners board, businessman Paddy Mordaunt, said the board had no comment to make on the charges.