The ECs position: not unreasonable on the face of it

A key objective of the ECs strategy for the development of ports is to establish clearer rules which set high quality standards for access to the port services market, and make procedures more transparent. Commercial port services and in particular cargo handling, passenger services, towage, pilotage and mooring are normally payable in addition to the fees charged for calling at a port. Charges for these services represent the bulk of the total costs of port visits for ships, and of port transit for cargo. They must be efficient, flexible, and competitively priced if shipping is to be cost-effective as a component of overall transport solutions, not just for the long-haul transport of bulk cargo but for an increasing range of containerised goods. This in turn requires a competitive market for these services, responsive to the changing needs of existing and potential customers.