Emergency Tugboat Surcharges at Korean Ports: effective July 6, 2026

POHANG — The Korea Tugbusiness Corporation has announced the enforcement of emergency stability support surcharges for regional tugboat operations, effective July 6, 2026. The decision, finalized during the 1st Central Tug Operation Council on June 30, 2026, is a direct response to rising geopolitical instability in the Middle East and its associated pressure on fuel costs. The emergency surcharge program is scheduled to run for a temporary period of three months, ending on September 30, 2026, with future extensions subject to re-discussion based on domestic oil price trends. While a standard 7.0% surcharge is mandated on basic tugboat fees to support operators, a discounted surcharge rate of 3.9% will be applied to shipping lines bunkering domestically. This concession acknowledges that domestic carriers are also facing severe financial pressure due to high oil prices, which have risen faster than overseas benchmarks due to geopolitical factors. According to the Pohang Branch's guidelines, national flag carriers will automatically receive the 3.9% rate without separate proof, whereas foreign-flagged vessels must submit domestic bunkering receipts to qualify for the discount. Summary Table: Surcharge Rates by Vessel Category Vessel Category Surcharge Rate Application Standards & Proof Requirements National Flag Vessels (국적선사) 3.9% Applied automatically to all vessels operated by domestic shipping companies, regardless of the vessel's registration flag. No separate proof required. Foreign Vessels (Conditional) (외국적선사 - 조건부) 3.9% Applied only upon submitting proof of domestic bunkering. Active from the fueling date; retroactive application is prohibited. Foreign Vessels (Standard) (외국적선사 - 기본) 7.0% Standard rate applied automatically if no domestic bunkering proof is submitted.