Middle East Navigation Service, an established frontier in providing navigational assistance across the Middle East’s Gulf region, recently announced a hike in service charges and a broadening of its paying clientele. Boasting a pedigree in offering Aid to Navigation (AtoN) in this bustling shipping route since 1951, the company has been the critical compass directing mariners away from navigational obstacles.
From spatial positioning to mapping safety routes and highlighting navigational hazards, MENAS slakes the thirst for knowledge for seafarers. The brand shoulders the monetary cost of maintaining these essential AtoN channel markers, namely buoys, lighthouses, and raccoons. Their primary financial relief comes from their Navigational Light Dues or Nav Dues, levied on ship owners based on their net tonnage during their maiden port-of-entry within the Gulf. Interestingly, these dues remained constant since 2006.
Riding the Wave of Inevitable Change
“We labored tirelessly to maintain the Nav Dues since 2006 at par. However, escalating costs now push us to hike them. Our commitment to the caliber of our services remains undeterred,” said Peter Stanley, CEO of MENAS’s parent firm, the International Foundation for Aids to Navigation.
MENAS pierced the bubble of calm by confessing the surging costs that accompany Nav Aids, particularly noticeable within the last two years. This increment is due to the rise in primary costs and the necessary replacement of significant equipment like DGPS transmitters.
Future Proofing Maritime Safety
Stanley reasoned, “Without change, our income would be unable to sustain the services adequately. It jeopardizes the safety and the future of MENAS’ AtoN. We understand shipowners may be perturbed by this added expense, but to safeguard navigation and the marine environment of the Gulf region, this is a necessary evil.”
Stanley reassured reputable shipowners, emphasizing their commitment to safety standards, and hoped they would appreciate the reasoning behind this crucial transformation.
Reading the Fine Print
Although MENAS undertakes third-party contract work to ease the Nav Dues on shipowners, these dues still foot the bill for all services rendered. The newly instituted tariff takes effect on October 1, 2023, with annual reviews.
Fair Seas Ahead
In recent times MENAS noted small vessels, currently exempt from dues, becoming a common sight. These boats belong to significant fleets. Stanley holds the conviction that it only seems just for these small players to contribute, and hence they plan to impose dues on all owners/charterers of vessels tallying or exceeding 8,000 net tonnes during their initial port call in the Middle East Gulf.
