Operating survey for vessels in water transport, 2004

The operating margin, amounting to 27.3 per cent, is the highest since the survey was altered in 2001.

The income from voyage freights and time charters from foreign charterers has increased significantly from 2001 through 2004. On the other hand, there is less income from Contracts of Affreightment, liner freights and freights from offshore supply vessels employed on the Norwegian continental shelf. Pools contribute to 21.3 billion of the gross freights.

Less for wages

The operating costs for operating vessels in foreign going trade were 71.8 billion in 2004. The corresponding amount for 2003 was 67.0 billion. However, the figures are not completely comparable since the 2003 figure includes other operating costs amounting to 2.3 billion. Other operating costs are not included in 2004. While the gross wage and social benefits to the crew amounted to 12.5 per cent of the total operating costs in 2001, the wage costs are down to 8.2 per cent of the operating costs in 2004.

The biggest items in the operating costs are voyage dependent costs and time charters for hire of vessels. The time charters for hire of vessels constitutes of 38.9 per cent of the total operating costs, while the voyage dependent costs excluding bunker but including loading and unloading costs amounts to 24.8 per cent. The bunker costs constitutes of just 10.8 per cent of the operating costs in 2004.

Tables:

• Table 1 Operating survey for vessels in foreign going trade. 2003 and 2004. NOK 1 000