There is a giant maintenance backlog at the ports around the country of DKK 270 million per 2021.
To remedy that, Naalakkersuisut will enable the company behind the port in Nuuk, Sikuki Nuuk Harbour, to buy up other ports in the country and operate them on commercial terms.
There is a giant maintenance backlog at the ports around the country of DKK 270 million per 2021.
To remedy that, Naalakkersuisut will enable the company behind the port in Nuuk, Sikuki Nuuk Harbour, to buy up other ports in the country and operate them on commercial terms.
But first the municipalities must be heard in an extended consultation process. The Department for Housing, Infrastructure, Outlying Districts and Emergency Preparedness informed Sermitsiaq at the beginning of July.
But there are indications that Naalakkersuisut will be met by positive mayors. At least in South Greenland.
Malene Vahl Rasmussen (D), who is mayor of the Municipality of Kujalleq, is positive about the proposal.
– We welcome anything that can benefit business development in the Municipality of Kujalleq. And if Naalakkersuisut and Sikuki believe that they can operate ports down here in Kujalleq on commercial terms, then I think that is a positive signal to send, she says.
She says that those in the municipality have been waiting for more maritime development for a long time and think it is good that the self-government is focusing on running the ports more efficiently and on more competitive terms than there are today.
Has grown out of the harbor
The idea of operating ports commercially in other parts of the country is that it will not burden the national treasury.
By introducing commercial port operations, Sikuki can introduce user fees in the form of port charges to finance operation and maintenance.
What do you think about user fees being introduced in the form of port charges?
– It depends on how high the user fee is. With the development we are seeing now, for example in Qaqortoq, I have no doubt that it will probably pay to run a port down here, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
She says that in the Municipality of Kujalleq they are working to make the port capacity large enough so that it can be both a cruise port, a port for the mining industry and a port for fishing trawlers. Business has demanded greater capacity, more commercial space and a more inviting port.
– We have outgrown our port here in Qaqortoq.
And the mayor can’t see how it can’t be beneficial to make it more private.
– Because there is simply a tendency for the public sector and that which is driven by monopoly to not be adequately maintained, says Malene Vahl Rasmussen.
Everyone must help with the financing
The municipality of Kujalleq is not the only one to vote positively. Also in Qeqqata Kommunia, mayor Malik Berthelsen (S) basically agrees with the intention of Naalakkersuisut’s proposal.
– Our business and supply depend on the ports, and the ports are indispensable for the country’s operation. When you also take the large backlog in the maintenance area into account, I do not believe that the current situation can be defended, he states in a written reply to Sermitsiaq.
He believes that it must be prioritized that the ports along the coast receive a high standard both in terms of quality and safety, just like the port in Nuuk.
– I also believe that it is reasonable that all of us as users contribute to the financing of this. After all, we have already seen that the funds set aside for maintenance in the Finance Act are not sufficient, writes Malik Berthelsen.
However, like Malene Vahl Rasmussen, he believes that the user fee must be reasonable.
– It is, of course, important that the size of the taxes does not become so high that they burden freight prices or otherwise impede trade.
The mayor of Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, Avaaraq Olsen (IA), is pleased that Naalakkersuisut’s bill is sent to consultation, and she will in that context take a position on the proposal and its possible consequences for the municipality. She does not wish to comment further on the bill at this time.
Sermitsiaq has tried to contact the mayors of Avannaata Kommunia and Kommune Qeqertalik, but has not heard back before the deadline.
