Light Dues

Light Dues

Trinity House has a statutory duty to collect General Light Dues from vessels calling at UK and Irish ports. Light Dues collected are paid into the General Light House Fund under the stewardship of the Department for Transport. The fund finances the work of Trinity House, the Northern Lighthouse Board (Scotland and the Isle of Man) and the Commissioners of Irish Lights (Ireland).

Light Dues is a tax, the rates for which are set annually by the respective Shipping Ministers of the UK and Ireland.

Tugs and fishing vessels (10 metres in length and over) are liable for annual payments based on the registered length of the vessel. They can elect to make two six monthly payments at a higher rate.

UK Annual payment per vessel of £190 plus £20/m over 10 metres

IRL Annual payment per vessel of €270 plus €30/m over 10 metres

UK Six month payment per vessel of £110 plus £12/m over 10 metres

IRL Six month payment per vessel of €150 plus €20/m over 10 metres

Pleasure craft (20 tons and over)

UK annual payment of £77. However, where ordinarily used and kept outside the UK, a payment of £26 per visit of 30 days or less; maximum in any year £78.

IRL annual payment of €100. However, where ordinarily used and kept outside the Republic of Ireland or UK, a payment of €40 per visit of 30 days or less; maximum in any year €100.

This does not apply to pleasure craft used for commercial purposes (e.g. excursion vessels), which are liable to payment under ‘All Other Vessels’.

All other vessels: The rates effective from 1 April 2025 are shown in the table below:

NT: Net Ton, as assessed in accordance with the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships 1969.

In the UK and Ireland, the maximum number of chargeable voyages per year is nine.

Enquiries about light dues can be emailed to lightdues.general@trinityhouse.co.uk