Heading · Chapter 89
8905: Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, and other vessels the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function; floating docks; floating or submersible drilling or production platforms
Heading 8905 is divided into 3 six-digit subheadings and sits in chapter 89, ships, boats and floating structures.
Duty rates compared
UK Free Third-country duty 5 tariff lines 
EU Free – 1.7% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 0.7% 
Türkiye Free – 1.7% Third-country duty 5 tariff lines · average 0.7% 
USA Free General (MFN) 4 tariff lines 
Canada Free – 25% General (MFN) 8 tariff lines · average 14.4% 
Mexico Free – 5% General (MFN) 4 tariff lines · average 1.3% 
Brazil 20% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Argentina 12.6% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Peru Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
New Zealand Free – 5% General (MFN) 6 tariff lines · average 2.5% 
Japan Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Taiwan Free – 10% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines · average 2% 
GCC Free General (MFN) 7 tariff lines 
Switzerland Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
Norway Free General (MFN) 3 tariff lines 
North Macedonia 13% General (MFN) 5 tariff lines 
Nigeria 5% General (MFN) 3 tariff lines Subheadings 3
- 8905.10Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes: dredgersDredgers
- 8905.20Floating or submersible drilling or production platformsFloating drilling and production platforms
- 8905.90Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes: otherOther special vessels (dredgers, floating cranes)
EU: imports by month
World trade in 2024
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$4mUS$4m+US$92m+US$589m+> US$1.8bn
Exports: 94
- China: US$4.8bn
- Saudi Arabia: US$2.3bn
- South Korea: US$1.8bn
- Angola: US$1.4bn
- Norway: US$1.4bn
- Singapore: US$1.2bn
- India: US$992m
- Indonesia: US$809m
- United Kingdom: US$668m
- Thailand: US$589m
- Brazil: US$567m
- Nigeria: US$531m
- Netherlands: US$435m
- Malaysia: US$402m
- Croatia: US$292m
- Türkiye: US$290m
- United Arab Emirates: US$278m
- Malta: US$219m
- Poland: US$202m
- Vanuatu: US$120m
- Panama: US$94m
- Italy: US$93m
- Bahamas: US$92m
- Japan: US$80m
- Germany: US$60m
- United States: US$55m
- Spain: US$52m
- Sri Lanka: US$46m
- Taiwan: US$43m
- Cyprus: US$38m
- Brunei: US$37m
- Marshall Islands: US$36m
- Finland: US$30m
- Denmark: US$25m
- Liberia: US$25m
- Estonia: US$21m
- Vietnam: US$21m
- Belgium: US$15m
- South Africa: US$10m
- Ukraine: US$8m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$8m
- France: US$7m
- Canada: US$6m
- Portugal: US$5m
- Senegal: US$5m
- Tanzania: US$4m
- Israel: US$3m
- Chile: US$3m
- Greece: US$3m
- Egypt: US$2m
- Sweden: US$2m
- Uruguay: US$2m
- Australia: US$2m
- Kazakhstan: US$2m
- Bahrain: US$2m
- Myanmar (Burma): US$2m
- Ghana: US$2m
- Peru: US$2m
- Palau: US$2m
- Colombia: US$1m
Trade value (US$) no reported trade < US$2mUS$2m+US$39m+US$399m+> US$1.3bn
Imports: 162
- Brazil: US$1.7bn
- Singapore: US$1.7bn
- United Arab Emirates: US$1.6bn
- India: US$1.3bn
- United States: US$1.3bn
- Thailand: US$1.1bn
- United Kingdom: US$1.1bn
- Malaysia: US$839m
- Bahamas: US$822m
- Bahrain: US$692m
- China: US$658m
- Spain: US$546m
- Malta: US$536m
- Italy: US$482m
- Denmark: US$456m
- Canada: US$456m
- Marshall Islands: US$399m
- Saudi Arabia: US$382m
- Norway: US$358m
- Panama: US$316m
- Indonesia: US$282m
- Senegal: US$256m
- Taiwan: US$225m
- Congo - Brazzaville: US$205m
- Vietnam: US$176m
- Australia: US$158m
- Lithuania: US$153m
- Cyprus: US$151m
- Qatar: US$139m
- Russia: US$129m
- Sri Lanka: US$126m
- Nigeria: US$122m
- Guinea: US$95m
- Türkiye: US$85m
- Angola: US$79m
- Iraq: US$72m
- Turkmenistan: US$60m
- Mauritius: US$53m
- Israel: US$46m
- Grenada: US$44m
- Netherlands: US$39m
- Egypt: US$38m
- Uruguay: US$37m
- Kuwait: US$35m
- Japan: US$34m
- Côte d’Ivoire: US$33m
- Equatorial Guinea: US$32m
- Poland: US$28m
- South Korea: US$27m
- Azerbaijan: US$26m
- Cameroon: US$25m
- Estonia: US$25m
- Germany: US$23m
- Ghana: US$20m
- Maldives: US$20m
- Liberia: US$19m
- France: US$18m
- Philippines: US$17m
- Bangladesh: US$15m
- Hong Kong SAR China: US$14m
Top exporters
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  China | US$4.8bn | 23.7% |
| 2 |  Saudi Arabia | US$2.3bn | 11.3% |
| 3 |  South Korea | US$1.8bn | 8.7% |
| 4 |  Angola | US$1.4bn | 7% |
| 5 | Norway | US$1.4bn | 7% |
| 6 |  Singapore | US$1.2bn | 5.9% |
| 7 |  India | US$992m | 4.9% |
| 8 |  Indonesia | US$809m | 4% |
| 9 | United Kingdom | US$668m | 3.3% |
| 10 |  Thailand | US$589m | 2.9% |
Top importers
| Rank | Country | Value | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brazil | US$1.7bn | 8.6% |
| 2 | Singapore | US$1.7bn | 8.3% |
| 3 |  United Arab Emirates | US$1.6bn | 8% |
| 4 | India | US$1.3bn | 6.5% |
| 5 | United States | US$1.3bn | 6.3% |
| 6 | Thailand | US$1.1bn | 5.7% |
| 7 | United Kingdom | US$1.1bn | 5.5% |
| 8 |  Malaysia | US$839m | 4.1% |
| 9 |  Bahamas | US$822m | 4.1% |
| 10 |  Bahrain | US$692m | 3.4% |
The UK Global Tariff divides heading 8905 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the EU Combined Nomenclature, heading 8905 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 1.7%. 3 of them are duty-free.
The Turkish Customs Tariff Schedule divides heading 8905 into 5 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 1.7% (average 0.7%). 3 of them are duty-free.
In the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, heading 8905 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Canada divides heading 8905 into 8 tariff lines; the duty is between 0% and 25% (average 14.4%). 3 of them are duty-free.
In the Mexican Tariff (TIGIE), heading 8905 covers 4 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 5%. 3 of them are duty-free.
The Brazilian Tariff (NCM/TEC) divides heading 8905 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is 20%.
In the Argentine Tariff (NCM-SIM), heading 8905 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is 12.6%.
The Customs Tariff of Peru divides heading 8905 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Working Tariff Document of New Zealand, heading 8905 covers 6 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 5%. 3 of them are duty-free.
The Customs Tariff Schedules of Japan divides heading 8905 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Import Tariff of Taiwan, heading 8905 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is between 0% and 10%. 4 of them are duty-free.
The GCC Common Customs Tariff divides heading 8905 into 7 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Swiss Customs Tariff (Tares), heading 8905 covers 3 tariff lines and the duty is duty-free.
The Customs Tariff of Norway divides heading 8905 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is duty-free.
In the Customs Tariff of North Macedonia, heading 8905 covers 5 tariff lines and the duty is 13%.
The ECOWAS Common External Tariff (Nigeria) divides heading 8905 into 3 tariff lines; the duty is 5%.
In 2024, countries exported heading 8905 goods worth US$20.2bn (−2.9% year on year).
The largest exporter was China (US$4.8bn), followed by Saudi Arabia.
The biggest buyer was Brazil, with imports of US$1.7bn.
The United Kingdom ranked 9th among 94 exporters with US$668m.
The United Kingdom imported US$1.1bn.
Legal notes
Additional notes
1. Subheadings 89011010, 89012010, 89013010, 89019010, 89020010, 89032210, 89032310, 89033210, 89033310, 89040091 and 89069010 are to be taken to apply only to vessels, designed as seagoing, having a hull of an overall length (excluding any projecting parts) of not less than 12 m. However, fishing boats and lifeboats, designed as seagoing, shall be considered as seagoing vessels regardless of their length.
2. Subheadings 89051010 and 89059010 are to be taken to apply only to vessels and floating docks, designed as seagoing.
3. For the purpose of heading 8908, the expression ‘vessels and other floating structures for breaking up’ includes the following articles when presented for breaking up, on condition that they have formed part of their normal equipment:
spare parts (such as propellers), whether or not in a new condition,
movable articles (furniture, kitchen equipment, tableware, etc.) showing clear evidence of use.
Questions and answers
What is the HS code for light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, and other vessels the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function; floating docks; floating or submersible drilling or production platforms?
Light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating cranes, and other vessels the navigability of which is subsidiary to their main function; floating docks; floating or submersible drilling or production platforms fall under HS heading 8905, part of chapter 89, in section XVII of the Harmonized System.
What is the import duty on light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating… in the UK?
Under the UK Global Tariff, imports under 8905 from countries without a preferential agreement are free of duty. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
What is the import duty on light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating… in the EU?
Under the EU Combined Nomenclature, imports under 8905 from countries without a preferential agreement are charged at 0% to 1.7%, depending on the line. Preferential rates, anti-dumping duties and VAT are not included.
Which country exports the most light-vessels, fire-floats, dredgers, floating…?
China, with US$4.8bn in 2024 (23.7% of world exports).