Operating survey for vessels in water transport, 2005

The gross freights have increased by 7.6 per cent compared with 2004. The ordinary gross freights amounted to NOK 77.7 billion, which was marginally higher than the total of 76.1 billion in 2004. Gross freights related to operation of pools rose by 31.5 per cent during the same period, and totals 28.0 billion in 2005. Commission income, however, dropped considerable to NOK 0.5 billion. Most of the drop is due to the fact that ship broking no longer is covered in the survey.

Enterprises transporting passengers in liner freight experienced a rise in their income in 2005. The gross freights increased by 36.5 per cent from 3.6 billion in 2004 to 5.0 billion in 2005. The operating profit of 2005 is NOK 27.9 billion which is about one billion more than the previous year.

Decrease in gross wage to crew

Following the increase of the gross freights from 2004 to 2005, the operating costs have increased by 9.1 per cent and totals 78.3 billion in 2005. The voyage dependent costs, the bunker costs, the time charter hire for foreign vessels and the gross wage paid to land based staff have increased the most. While the gross wage paid to crew decreased from 5.9 billion in 2004 to 5.5 billion in 2005, the gross wage to land based staff have increased from 0.9 billion to 2.2 billion.

The voyage dependent costs and the bunker costs constitute 35.5 per cent of the operating costs in 2005. A slightly larger portion of the costs, 37.4 per cent, comes from hiring of vessels, i.e. time charter and bareboat hire.

Tables:

• Table 1 Operating survey for vessels in foreign going trade. 2004 and 2005