Definition

Noun: - A tax levied on ships based on their carrying capacity or volume, typically assessed when entering a port or country. The tax amount is calculated according to the ship's registered tonnage.

Usage

• This term is used in the context of maritime law, international trade, and customs regulations. It refers specifically to a fiscal charge on vessels, not on the cargo itself.
• It is often discussed in relation to port fees, customs duties, and historical trade policies.

Examples

• The 19th-century merchant ship had to pay a tonnage duty before it could unload its goods in New York harbor.
• A key issue in the trade negotiation was the reduction of tonnage duties for container ships.
• The port's revenue from tonnage duty helps fund the maintenance of navigation channels.

Advanced Usage

• "to levy/impose a tonnage duty": The act of charging this tax.
  • The government decided to impose a tonnage duty on all foreign-flagged vessels.
• "tonnage duty rates": The specific amount charged per unit of tonnage.
  • The new tariff schedule announced increased tonnage duty rates for bulk carriers.

Variants and Related Words

• Tonnage tax: A very similar term, often used interchangeably, though it can sometimes refer to a modern tax regime for shipping companies based on the net tonnage of their fleet.
• Port dues / Harbor dues: General fees for using port facilities, which may include or be separate from tonnage duties.
• Light dues: A specific charge for the maintenance of lighthouses and navigational aids, historically related to tonnage.

Synonyms

• Ship tax
• Vessel duty
• Maritime toll

Related Phrases

• Payable on entry: Describes when the duty is due.
  • The tonnage duty is payable on entry into territorial waters.
• Based on net register tonnage (NRT): Specifies the measurement standard used for calculation.
  • The tonnage duty was calculated based on the ship's net register tonnage.

Noun

1. a tax imposed on ships that enter the US; based on the tonnage of the ship