NETHERLANDS ANTILLES DROPS SHIPPING TAX PLANS

   The government of the Netherlands Antilles has decided not to pursue
plans to tax vessels’ port expenses and freight earnings.
   These taxes were to take effect on Sept. 1. However, after appeals
issued by the shipping industry, the government canceled its tax plan. If
the tax had been applied, it would have increased costs for ocean shipping by 2 to 5 percent, and could have jeopardized the tax benefits available to companies based in the country.
   "After we explained the consequences that these changes would have
created, we were pleased to see that the government reconsidered and
canceled this amendment to the tax regulations," said Thomas Timlen of the Baltic and International Maritime Council, which represents many carriers and ship agents in the Netherlands Antilles.