BEIJING: China’s Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Finance has issued notice of a reduction in port construction fees and payments to the ships oil pollution damage compensation fund for a period of six months.

According to the notice, China will reduce 50% of ships oil pollution damage compensation fund and will not charge port construction fee for the export and import cargos for the period of 1 March - 30 June.

The measure was released to support work resumption and stabilising operation of the economy under the prevention and control of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

During the COVID-19 outbreak period, the daily average international ships number called at Chinese ports is around 500, said Yang Xinzhai, Deputy Director of Maritime Safety Administration.

To effectively response to the COVID-19, China is implementing joint prevention and control mechanism to strengthen the management and control at port entries. Earlier this month, China State Council's meeting made the decision to reduce port security charges, cargo dues and some of the other port charges.