Ship owners face a rise in costs for the marine survey service - the equivalent of an MoT for vessels - from next month.

The Marine and Coastguard Agency is raising the fees from £60 an hour up to £70 an hour from August 1.

Richard Snape, watch officer at Thames coastguard at Walton, said today that ships, like those operated by Stena and DFDS Seaways through Harwich International Port, would all be affected.

The increase would also apply to those in the area with large commercial fishing vessels and merchant vessels which need registration certificates to operate.

"We are really talking about larger ships rather than boats and yachts and this is all part of international legislation," he said.

"The surveys, which are similar to MoTs for cars, take a minimum of three hours to complete and can be quite expensive. It is a basic check over the craft and would include things like lifeboats, firefighting equipment and other safety checks."

Mr Snape said the costs had been reviewed and as in most cases have been increased.

However, he added, these surveys do not apply to smaller boats under 12 metres and checks by coastguards are carried out to confirm the size, for which there is currently no charge.

Maurice Storey, chief executive of the Marine and Coastguard Agency, said that in recent years the cost of providing the service had not been reflected in the rate charged.

Fees had not gone up for three years and the new charge was only a break even figure.

Sixty groups and organisations were consulted during November in order for a decision to be made over the new rate.

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