When considering user charges for the provision and maintenance of marine aids to navigation, it must be recognized that the basis on which they are calculated and levied is to a large extent due to historical accident. There is no internationally recognised system for levying these dues and every country has its own ideas as to how much money, if any, should be raised by this means.

User charges paid by shipping for marine aids to navigation normally fall into two categories. First there are national charges which go towards the running of the national lighthouse authority, either in whole, or in part. Such charges are referred to in this paper as ‘light dues’.