Vessel Operating Costs Expected to Rise 3%

Vessel operating costs are expected to rise by more than 3.0% in both 2013 and 2014, according to a new survey by international accountant and shipping consultant, and Maritime London member, Moore Stephens.

The survey is based on responses from key players in the international shipping industry, predominantly shipowners and managers in Europe and Asia. Those responses revealed that vessel operating costs are expected to rise by 3.0% in 2013, and by 3.2% in 2014, with crew wages and P&I insurance likely to increase most significantly.

Crew wages are expected to increase by 2.4% in 2013 and 2.5% in 2014, with other crew costs likely to go up by 2.1% and 2.2% respectively for the years under review. The cost of P&I insurance is also expected to escalate by 2.4% in 2013 and by 2.5% in 2014, this compared to the increases of 2.0% and 2.3% respectively predicted in respect of the cost of hull & machinery insurance.

Expenditure on spares is expected to increase by 2.1% and 2.3% in 2013 and 2014 respectively, while respondents anticipate a 2.2% increase in the cost of lubricants in both years under review. The cost of stores is expected to increase by 1.9% and 2.0% respectively for 2013 and 2014, while repairs & maintenance expenditure is predicted to increase in those two years by 2.3 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.

Drydocking costs over the same period are expected to rise by 2.1% and then 2.4%. Meanwhile, as was the case in the 2012 survey, management fees are deemed likely to produce the lowest level of increase in both 2013 and 2014, at 1.4% and 1.7% respectively.

Moore Stephens shipping partner Richard Greiner says, “Ship operating costs fell by an average of 1.8% across all the main ship types in 2012, so at first blush the predicted increase in costs for this year and next might come as something of a disappointment. In truth, however, the levels of increase anticipated for 2013 and 2014 are still way below many of those we have seen in recent years. Moreover, they have to be viewed against a number of serious challenges facing the owners and operators of vessels in today’s shipping industry.”

He added: “Crew costs, as always, emerged as a major concern for respondents, which is no surprise given the potential budgetary implications of the entry into force of MLC 2006 and the increasing involvement of both international and regional bodies in the oversight of crew competence and its effect on safety. Continuing the theme of previous surveys, fuel costs again featured prominently as a cause for concern, as did the cost of having to comply with increased regulation generally in the shipping industry."

"The latter, unfortunately, cannot be addressed by the expedient of applying new rules and regulations only to new ships, as suggested by one respondent. The regulators want a clean and safe shipping industry, and it is the industry itself, which includes a significant number of older vessels, that will have to underwrite the budget needed to achieve compliance.”



Source: Moore Stephens/Maritime London