Le Havre’s 2012 port dues stay steady

   The French port of Le Havre announced Monday that it will freeze harbor fees for container vessels for the third consecutive year to help the maritime industry during an uncertain economic environment.
   The Le Havre port authority said the move is intended to retain or attract container lines as customers. 
   The fees collected from vessel operators are used to maintain navigation aids, upgrade infrastructure, and pay for equipment and surface transportation connections.
   Many ports offered carriers temporary rebates on a portion of their fees at the height of the recession. The Port of Los Angeles doesn’t plan to continue its rebate program in part because officials don’t think container lines are doing their part to keep their costs in line with revenues, and shouldn’t be rewarded for their mistakes.
   The Port of Le Havre last month said it will give container and roll-on/roll-off ships a 10 percent break on fees that score high on the Environmental Ship Index developed by the International Association of Ports and Harbors. — Eric Kulisch