Cost index for domestic sea transport

Weights, vessel groups, and cost groups

The cost distribution for the various vessel groups is based on the characteristics of a representative vessel and is derived from the surveys mentioned in section 3.2.

The statistics consist of the following vessel groups:

• Ferries
• Small passenger boats
• Large passenger boats
• Tugs
• Other cargo ships

Costs are divided into the following cost groups:

• Crew
• Repair and maintenance
• Fuel
• Administrative
• Other
• Capital costs - Depreciation
• Capital costs - Financing

From the 4th quarter of 2021, alternative fuels are included in the index.

• Natural gas (LNG)
• NO1 Electricity Southeast Norway
• NO2 Electricity Southwest Norway
• NO3 Electricity Central Norway
• NO4 Electricity Northern Norway
• NO5 Electricity Western Norway

Vessel groups

Ferries are vessels transporting cars and/or passengers within the domestic road network. Passenger boats are vessels transporting passengers domestically. These vessels are typically high-speed crafts providing transportation services in a specific area. Passenger boats are divided into small and large passenger boats. This is because the international code of safety for high-speed crafts has different rules for small passenger boats (shorter than 24 meters) compared to large passenger boats. Thus, the distribution of costs for small and larger vessels will differ. Cruise ships are defined as passenger vessels with the primary purpose of providing a tourist experience and sleeping accommodations. Cruise ships were removed from the cost index in 2016.

Tugs are vessels that do not directly transport goods or passengers but offer service in ports or along the coast. Other cargo ships are vessels transporting goods.

Cost groups

Fuel costs are expenses directly connected to the consumption of fuel. From the 2nd quarter of 2009 until and including the 4th quarter of 2016 fuel costs are measured without taxes. From the 1st quarter of 2017 fuel costs include taxes on CO2 and sulfur emissions. Crew costs are all expenses related to sailors. From the 2nd quarter of 2017, crew costs include additional cost components, such as regular and irregular supplements to wages, overtime pay, bonuses, and holiday pay. Repair and maintenance costs are costs connected to the reparation and maintenance of vessels. Administrative costs encompass back-office expenses. The remaining operating costs are grouped into other costs.

Capital costs are costs incurred on the purchase of real capital goods. By having capital tied up in fixed assets, real capital, the costs can be divided into depreciation (Capital wear) and financing costs (interest costs). Depreciation is related to costs incurred due to wear or a decrease in the value of fixed assets. In accounting, this corresponds to amortization. Financing costs are the compensation resulting from the fact that capital is displayed. Liabilities are split into debt and equity capital. The cost index does not include the payment to equity capital and capital costs relating to financing has its accounting parallel to expenses for debt service.

Not relevant.