VIPA Hosts Public Hearing To Discuss Upcoming Cruise Ship Fee Increases

The Virgin Islands Port Authority held a public hearing Tuesday evening on St. Thomas to discuss increases in cruise ship fees expected to occur in 2025 in the St. Thomas-St. John district, as the authority, seeks to fund its upcoming projects and operations.

According to the authority’s Director, Carlton Dowe, the marine tariffs were last amended on Jan. 21, 2023. The cruise ship fees are established by tariffs via contracts with cruise lines and are applied according to the date of board approval. The latest increase was approved by the Port Authority board in September. According to the amendment, port dues will increase by $3 per passenger and will fund the Charlotte Amalie Harbor Dredging Project. The current rate is $6.84 cents and the new rate will be $9.84 per passenger. The Port Authority collects these fees directly. Additionally, the wharfage fees will increase by $0.44 cents per passenger for cruise ships entering the district and will fund the Port Authority’s marine operations and expenses. The current rate is $7.80 and will increase to $8.24. This fee will be collected by the West Indian Company when ships berth at West Indian Company Dock (WICO) in Havensight and by the Port Authority when ships berth at the Austin “Babe” Monsanto Marine Terminal in Crown Bay and on St. John.