Maldives Government confirms to lift-off charges

[nOv]

Good day to you all and good news.

We were given the opportunity to deliver a presentation at the Conference held by Maldives Customs Services to study and act on declining of cruising yachts to Maldives.

The conference was taken part with all the government authorities including;
1- The President’s Office
2- Maldives Customs Services
3- Maldives Ports Limited
4- Ministry of Health - Port Health
5- Ministry of Transport - Transport Authority
6- Ministry of Tourism
7- Maldives Defence Force - Coast Guard Section
8- Department of Immigration
9- Maldives Integrated Tourism
10- Maldives Association of Yacht Agents

The Government of the Maldives has decided to lift-off and minimize all its charges.
In a continuous effort with the Authorities, it was brought to the focus of the government.

Below are the fees which would be reduced;
1- Tourism Ministry - Cruise and Harbour Fee
2- Customs - Inward and Outward charges
3- Customs - AIS device daily charge
4- Port Heath - Sanitary Certification charges

Authorities took action on 31st January 2020.

Changes would be announced on the Government Gazette within the month of February 2020.

Will update the reduced fees structure once available.

If you plan to stop-over in the Maldives and require useful information on procedures, formalities, guides, agency services and shore support, please feel free to inquire port costing and other assistance from the below;

Island Sailors Maldives
Email: port@islandsailors.com

If you may have any queries please leave a message and would be glad to provide any details.

Happy Sailing and Fair Winds.

[capn_billl]

Daily AIS charge?

What is that?

Are they renting you one? or charging you for the use of YOURS?

If it's more than a few dollars a day, Imma chunking it overboard, and buying a new one once I get back to a CIVILIZED country.

Does ANY other country charge this?

Some countries mandate them, or highly recommend them, this is the first time I've heard of charging for a critical safety, or navigational equipment.

Usually the fines are for NOT having one.

[PippaB]

Geez, what got your knickers in a twist about a two-year-old post announcing that you don’t have to rent one? If you don’t like their UNCIVILIZED policies then maybe don’t go? Complain about government tracking your boat while allowing the Internet giants to know the color of your feces every morning?

FWIW, it used to be a $200 deposit and $6/day while in Maldives waters if you didn’t have your own operational AIS transponder.

[Island Time O25]

Too funny.

The government first creates a problem - overregulation and overtaxation leading to less people visiting their islands - and then tries to fix that problem by issuing more regulations hiding those as "lessening of regulations and taxation". Just can't make this up.

[Bycrick]

Lots of countries charge cruising boats for the privilege of being in their waters. What they call it, (cruising permit, lighthouse fee, etc.) isn’t very important. Why shouldn’t they? It’s their water and they have to provide at least some services. When the fees are "too high," potential clients/visitors may choose to go someplace else. In some cases, that might be an unintended consequence, but in others, it’s a very deliberate policy to keep out the perceived "riff-raff."

But complaining about it isn’t usually going to accomplish much.

[redneckrob]

Originally Posted by Island Time O25

Too funny.

The government first creates a problem - overregulation and overtaxation leading to less people visiting their islands - and then tries to fix that problem by issuing more regulations hiding those as "lessening of regulations and taxation". Just can't make this up.

Curious if you are now or have ever been within 1,000 miles if the Maldives in your boat or are just using this as a transparently gratuitous attempt to make a political statement? What, exactly, do you hope to accomplish by that?