As in previous years, we are committed to communicating promptly and transparently about the financial changes effective from 1 January 2026.

The Board of Directors of Port of Antwerp-Bruges confirmed that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will continue to be applied this year. This corresponds to a CPI of 1.91%, unless otherwise specified. In addition, several other changes will be implemented, as discussed with the port community.

Tariff adjustments

We will follow the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the month of August 2025 and apply it to the various tariff regulations and fees for both platforms.

This translates into a 1.91% increase from 1 January 2026 for:

• Tariff regulations for sea-going vessels (Antwerp)
• Tariff regulations for inland navigation (Antwerp)
• Tariff regulations for the Bruges – Zeebrugge port area
• Tariff regulations on the use of quays and sheds in the port area (Antwerp)
• Tariff regulations for catering in the port area (Antwerp)
• Tariff regulations on the use of land in the port area (Antwerp)
• Tariff regulation for the use of dry docks (Antwerp)

The rates included in the tariff regulations on towage in the docks (Antwerp) increase by 1.72%. Tariffs for towage on the Zeebrugge platform increase by 2.09%.

CPI will not be factored into the tariff regulations:

• Maritime waste regulations (Antwerp and Zeebrugge)
• Tariff regulations for water-bound oil spills

Seagoing vessels

The following changes apply to port areas of Antwerp and Bruges-Zeebrugge:

• Discount for double calls (Antwerp and Zeebrugge called consecutively):
  • In 2026, this will amount to a 10% discount on tonnage dues
  • In the following years, the discount will increase by 10 percentage points each year, up to a maximum of 50% in 2030
• Standardisation of frequency discount percentages and thresholds, with adjustments to basic and liner shipping rates to minimise the impact.

The following amendments are made to the tariff regulations applicable to seagoing vessels in the Antwerp port area:

• Ships carrying oil and dry bulk cargo
  • Only bulk lines are still possible for vessels carrying oil and dry bulk. The owner of the goods receives the discount.
  • The minimum thresholds for the bulk lines will increase as follows:
    • Oil: 400,000 tonnes (2026) → 500,000 tonnes (2028).
    • Dry bulk: 200,000 tonnes (2026) → 300,000 tonnes (2028).
  • The discount is calculated on the unloaded and loaded tonnage and paid annually.
• Gas tankers, chemical tankers, breakbulk ships, reefer ships
  • For these vessel types, only shipping lines are still possible.
  • The type of charter is no longer a determining factor in the allocation of the discount
  • The discount is only granted if the operator and the customer to whom the tonnage fee invoice is issued are the same party.
  • Abolition of the voyage charter discount
• Frequency discount for shortsea (gas) tankers
  • Reduced from 25% to 15% and from 50% to 30%, but extended to all (gas) tankers.
• Increase of the non-liner trade tariff for (gas) tankers by 3%
• Berthing dues for vehicles
  • From 2027, cars, vans, and trucks will be charged at the container rate instead of the general cargo rate.

The following changes will be implemented in the Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge:

• Berthing dues:
  • Berthing dues are based on type of goods rather than location
• Partial load:
  • The rate for partial load will be abolished and replaced by tariffs for shipping lines.
• Tonnage dues:
  • Abolition of the difference between the inner and outer port rates, with charges applied at the inner port level.
  • Adjustment of the shipping linerates to accommodate the changes in frequency discounts and thresholds.
• Automotive:
  • Abolition of dividing the gross tonnage by 2.5. The actual GT will apply for the calculation of the tonnage dues. This is partially offset by lowering the basic rate.
  • For port calls above 3,000,000 GT, an additional 10 percent discount on the tonnage fee will be granted per call.
• RoRo:
  • Abolition of dividing the GT by 2.5, which is compensated by the reduction of the basic rate.
• Container ships:
  • Abolition of the 150,000 GT maximum threshold. This will be gradually phased out by 2028:
    • 2026: max. 175,000 GT.
    • 2027: max. 200,000 GT.
    • 2028: actual GT.
• Charging for drinking water deliveries:
  • the rate for drinking water consumption will be reduced from EUR 8.25/m³ to EUR 4.13/m³.
  • pass-through of the actual connection cost in accordance with the agreement with Farys, which will be indexed according to the CPI of October
  • charging a flat administrative fee of EUR 110 per invoice
• Subsistence duty
  • Charging in 14-day periods after the first 14-day period, instead of per day, at the following already indexed rates:
    • Estuary ships, inland navigation ships and vessels: EUR 0.0901 per tonne for 14 days, with a minimum charge of EUR 178.
    • Seagoing vessel: EUR 0.4333 per GT for 14 days, with a minimum charge of EUR 525

The following changes will be made regarding ship waste in the tariff regulations for seagoing vessels applicable to the Port of Antwerp:

• Increase of the Port of Antwerp contribution for the delivery of Annex I waste from EUR 25/m³ to EUR 30/m³.
• Increase in waste fee
  • Fixed contribution
    • for a vessel up to 3,000 GT: increase from 200 to 260 EUR
    • For a vessel from 3,001 GT: upwards: increase from 270 to 350 EUR
  • The variable contribution will increase from EUR 0.023 to EUR 0.026/GT
  • The maximum waste contribution will increase from EUR 1,250 to EUR 1,500.
• Introduction of a 50% discount on the waste contribution when the previous port of call was Zeebrugge.

The following changes regarding ship waste will be made to the tariff regulations for seagoing vessels applicable to the Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge:

• Increase of the Port of Bruges-Zeebrugge contribution for the delivery of Annex I waste from EUR 25/m³ to EUR 30/m³.
• Introduction of a 50% discount on the waste contribution when the previous port of call was Antwerp.

Inland navigation

As in previous years, the rates for shore power, drinking water, and chargeable other ship-generated waste will not be indexed, but will be charged based on the actual consumption and processing costs.

Concessions

The rates for concessions will also follow the August 2025 CPI of 1.91%. This applies to:

• the concession fees included in the concession agreements of the Bruges-Zeebrugge port area;
• the rates with a phasing-out character that no longer appear in the aforementioned regulations, but which are still applicable to certain (concession) agreements;
• the rates for the use of quays and sheds under the depot regime;
• the commercially deviating fees, linked to the basic fees;
• all other fees, unless other indexation mechanisms are specified in the relevant (concession) agreement.

For late applications for a domain permit, an additional fee of EUR 4,000 per permit will be introduced. This additional fee will be charged if the application is submitted less than four weeks before the planned start of the domain permit.

The fee for temporary use of the Port Domain without prior approval from POAB will be simplified. The rate is set at EUR 23.73 per m² per year.

Mooring & unmooring and pilotage behind the locks

Brabo Group’s rates are also increasing by 1.91%.
Source: Port of Antwerp-Bruges