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Port Infrastructure Charge | Freight-Academy™

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Port Infrastructure Charge

A port infrastructure charge is a fee levied by port authorities or terminal operators to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of port infrastructure – quays, access roads, locks, and lighting.

Quick Answer

A port infrastructure charge is a fee levied by port authorities or terminal operators to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of port infrastructure – quays, access roads, locks, and…

It is typically assessed per vessel call, per TEU handled, or per tonne of cargo, and appears as a distinct line item in port cost statements.

Freight practitioners must distinguish it from the terminal handling charge (THC), which covers cargo-handling operations, and from pilotage fees, which are billed separately.

Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 22 November 2025

Source: https://www.portinfrastructure.org

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Port Infrastructure Charge

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Definition & Explanation

A port infrastructure charge is a fee levied by port authorities or terminal operators to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of port infrastructure – quays, access roads, locks, and lighting. It is typically assessed per vessel call, per TEU handled, or per tonne of cargo, and appears as a distinct line item in port cost statements. Freight practitioners must distinguish it from the terminal handling charge (THC), which covers cargo-handling operations, and from pilotage fees, which are billed separately. Applicable rates are generally published in official port tariff schedules and vary considerably from port to port. For shippers and forwarders, accurate capture of this charge is essential when calculating total landed costs.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Port Infrastructure Charge (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-infrastructure-charge), accessed 2026-09-12
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2025). Port Infrastructure Charge. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-infrastructure-charge
BibTeX: @misc{portinfrastructurecharge2025, title = {Port Infrastructure Charge}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2025}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-infrastructure-charge}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-12} }

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