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Reference Tariff Schedule

Our fees are changing from 1 January 2026

Ports Victoria is introducing a new Navigation and Port Services (NaPS) fee to continue to provide essential port management and safety services.

The new fee will be payable from 1 January 2026 and will apply to all commercial vessels. The fee will be incorporated into the Reference Tariff Schedule.

We undertook an extensive pricing review, and benchmarking showed that port services fees are standard across the global port industry.

This fee will ensure our operations are consistent with the international standard.

Ports Victoria has introduced a Navigational and Port Services (NaP Services) fee. This fee will be effective on and from 1 January 2026 and will be included in reference tariff schedule – 

  • click here for the Reference Tarriff Schedule effective from 1 January 2026 

The NaP Services fee recovers only those costs associated with providing and maintaining navigational and port services. These services are necessary and are consistent with international port authority management practices. They provide benefit to all ships and trades using Victoria’s commercial ports. The NaP Services fee does not extend to those costs associated with the channel management functions or wharf assets that Ports Victoria or others provide and maintain. 

Ports Victoria and its harbour masters are responsible for providing critical port services and navigational services at a high safety standard for the Victorian commercial ports and their port waters.  These services include:

  • provision of vessel traffic services and navigational services
  • provision of shipping booking service
  • conducting shipping navigation and berthing simulations
  • permitting for hazardous port activities
  • administration of licensing systems and development of safety standards for pilotage and towage service providers
  • monitoring metocean conditions for navigational safety
  • emergency preparedness or pre-incident training and exercises
  • administration of notices to mariners, port information guides, harbour masters directions, and local knowledge certification of pilots and masters.

The services are necessary to improve and assure the safety of commercial shipping navigation.

The NaP Services fee will be applied to all commercial ships using the ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Hastings on a gross tonne (GT) basis.  The NaP Services fee is only payable once per voyage.

The NaP Services fee will be introduced by applying a gradual price path from 1 January 2026 to 1 July 2028 as indicated in the table below. 

 

NaPS fee price path schedule for the first 4 years (exclusive of GST)

Commencement Date  NaPS fee per GT
1 January 2026  $0.03 
1 July 2026  $0.06 
1 July 2027  $0.09 
1 July 2028  $0.12 

($AUD nominal and adjusted by Ports Victoria’s gazetted annual Reference Tariff Schedule indices) 

The NaP Services fee was developed following a comprehensive 12-month review undertaken by Ports Victoria of its responsibilities and the services it renders under the Transport Integration Act 2010 (Vic), the Port Management Act 1995 (Vic) and the Marine Safety Act (2010).  

The review included an assessment of the services which Ports Victoria provides and the amounts it recovers for those services to ensure that Ports Victoria continues to meet its ongoing obligation to operate in a commercially sound manner.

The review was undertaken applying consistent, well-accepted and conventional pricing principles, the Department of Treasury and Finance pricing principles and considered the principles adopted by national as well as international port jurisdictions.

The fees raised under the NaP Services mechanism will support Ports Victoria’s ability to continue to deliver a safe, fair and efficient commercial port system that serves the best interests of all marine and port users.  

If you have any questions, contact Ports Victoria via information@ports.vic.gov.au

Reference Tariff Schedule

The Reference Tariff Schedule sets out Ports Victoria’s pricing for a range of services and facilities at the ports of Melbourne, Geelong and Hastings.

The Ports Victoria Reference Tariff Schedule 2026 is effective from 1 January 2026 and supersedes all previous versions for the ports of Hastings and Geelong, and for Station Pier and the Anchorage in the port of Melbourne.

The Ports Victoria Reference Tariff Schedule 2025 is effective until 1 January 2026 

 

Standard Terms and Conditions

Information about the standard terms and conditions (Standard Terms and Conditions) for use of Ports Victoria services and facilities, with links to relevant documents are set out below.

Ports Victoria’s Standard Terms and Conditions have recently been updated to include Navigational and Port Services, with other Standard Terms and Conditions updated for clarity and other minor changes.  The collection of terms set out below relate to channel access (Geelong and Hastings), Anchorages (port waters of Melbourne and Geelong), Common User Wharves and Terminals (Station Pier) and the navigational and port services

The updated Standard Terms and Conditions effective from 11 December 2025 are available below:

For further information, please contact Ports Victoria has information@ports.vic.gov.au

 

Vessels entering Station Pier

Vessels entering Station Pier are subject to fees and charges for a range of services while passing through port of Melbourne waters and for access to Station Pier. These charges are levied by Ports Victoria.

Vessels entering Station Pier are also subject to shared channel charges for using port of Melbourne waters, as they pass in and out of Port Phillip. These charges are levied by Port of Melbourne.

Vessels entering the ports of Geelong and Hastings

Vessels entering the ports of Geelong and Hastings are subject to channel and other charges for using port of Geelong and port of Hastings waters.  These charges are levied by Ports Victoria.

  • click here for Access and Hire of Ports Victoria’s Facilities (Geelong and Hastings) Terms”

Vessels entering the port of Geelong are also subject to shared channel charges for using port of Melbourne waters, as they pass in and out of Port Phillip. These charges are levied by Port of Melbourne.