Survey: Ship Operating Costs to Rise 3-4%

A new survey from Moore Stephens finds that vessel operating costs are expected to rise by more than three% in both 2013 and 2014, unwelcome news to shipowners that continue to struggle with low freight rates and over capacity across the oceangoing sectors.

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 three% in 2013, and by 3.2% in 2014, with crew wages and P&I insurance the cost categories likely to increase most significantly.

Crew wages are expected to increase by 2.4% in 2013 and by 2.5% in 2014, with other crew costs thought 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% and 2.4% respectively.

Drydocking costs over the same period are expected to rise by 2.1% and 2.4% respectively. 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. 
“Cost-cutting and belt-tightening have gone as far as it is possible to go,” said on respondent. “The next few months will see the service industries return to profit, and they will do that by increasing costs.” Another said, “It is clear that the cost of sustaining our industry will go up, funding will become increasingly difficult, and more small and medium-size companies will disappear.”

“Owners are bleeding money,” said one respondent, “but this is not having any impact on the likes of class surveyors, spares manufacturers and service engineers as they continue to charge heavily. Moreover, the quality of the product is going down while maintenance costs are increasing.”
The cost of fuel occupied the thoughts of a number of respondents, one of whom noted, “Fuel costs remain the biggest chunk of our operating expenses due to surging price increases.” Referring to political volatility in the Middle East and increasing regulation on sulfur emissions levels, another respondent predicted that many owners would “have to switch to Marine Gas Oil, which will involve a very big cost increase. We have already seen how the switch between high and low-sulfur fuel is causing problems for some ships, and instances of black-outs and loss of power are on the increase.”
Elsewhere, a number of respondents referred to the effect on operating costs of a significant number of older vessels still operating in the market, with one predicting, “A number of these will be squeezed out by 2014, particularly those over 25 years of age.”

Moore Stephens also asked respondents to identify the three factors that were most likely to influence the level of vessel operating costs over the next 12 months. Overall, 21% of respondents (compared to 27% in last year’s survey) identified finance costs as the most significant factor, followed closely by crew supply (20%). Competition was in third place, with 18%, followed by demand trends (16%) and labour costs (13%). The cost of raw materials was also cited by ten% of respondents as a factor that would account for an increase in operating costs.

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.

“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.

“Speaking of underwriting, the projected rise in P&I premiums for 2013 and 2014 can be attributed, among other things, to a number of major casualties to which the clubs and their reinsurance underwriters have had to respond, as well as to the escalating cost of wreck removal. For these reasons, the anticipated cost increases are not unexpected. The fact that the projected increases for hull & machinery cover are lower than those for P&I is perhaps an illustration of the difference between physical loss & damage cover and third-party liability cover, and of the distinction between commercial and mutual insurance.