Which of the following is a common port charge that affects voyage cost?

• A. Berthing dues
• B. Ocean freight
• C. Insurance
• D. Customs declaration fee

Answer: (A)

Port charges are fees levied by a port for using its facilities during a voyage. Berthing dues are one such charge, incurred whenever a vessel takes a berth at a port to load or unload. These dues are typically calculated per port call and can depend on factors like vessel size or time at the berth, so they directly add to the voyage cost. The other options relate to the cargo’s movement or risk (ocean freight for transporting goods, insurance for protection against loss, and a customs declaration fee for paperwork), but they are not charges tied to using the port’s berthing facilities. Berthing dues are the most direct example of a common port charge affecting voyage cost.