Cost index for domestic sea transport

From the first quarter of 2025, the Cost Index for Domestic Sea Transport is calculated using new weight sets, and the reference period has been moved to the fourth quarter of 2024. Old index values are available in tables 14546, 14547, and 14548 ("Closed time series"). The new weight sets are described in "About the statistics."

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Cost index for domestic sea transport

The cost indices describe the price development for input factors within inland water transport. In addition to the total index for the whole industry, sub-indices for 5 different types of vessels are also presented. The index ignores gains in productivity and changes in profit margins.

Updated: 12 June 2025
Next update: 10 September 2025

Selected figures from these statistics

  • Cost Indices for Domestic Shipping (Q4 2024 = 100)
    Cost Indices for Domestic Shipping (Q4 2024 = 100)
    1st quarter 20251st quarter 20251st quarter 2025
    Cost indexLast quarter change (per cent)Last year change (per cent)
    Total index101.51.52.9
    Vessels
    Ferries101.21.23.2
    Small passenger boats101.41.43.0
    Large passenger boats102.32.33.7
    Tugs100.00.04.1
    Other cargo ships102.72.83.0
    Costs
    Fuel108.78.74.7
    Crew97.4-2.62.7
    Repair and maintenance103.53.54.3
    Administrative100.00.04.3
    Other100.80.83.1
    Capital costs - Depreciation103.53.56.9
    Capital costs - Financing97.5-2.5-2.6
    Figures for capital costs – financing were corrected 5 October 2023.
    Explanation of symbols
  • Domestic sea transport. Cost indices without fuel component (4th quarter 2024=100)
    Domestic sea transport. Cost indices without fuel component (4th quarter 2024=100)
    1st quarter 2025
    Cost indexLast quarter change (per cent)Last year change (per cent)
    Total index99.7-0.33.3
    Vessel
    Ferries99.7-0.33.9
    Small passenger boats99.7-0.43.7
    Large passenger boats99.6-0.43.7
    Tugs98.6-1.43.8
    Other cargo ships101.21.23.6
    Costs
    Crew97.4-2.62.7
    Repair and maintenance103.53.54.3
    Administrative100.00.04.3
    Other operational costs100.80.83.1
    Capital costs - Depreciation103.53.56.9
    Capital costs - Financing97.5-2.5-2.6
    Figures for capital costs – financing were corrected 5 October 2023.
    Explanation of symbols

About the statistics

The information under «About the statistics» was last updated 10 June 2025.

Weights, vessel groups, and cost groups

The cost distribution for the various vessel groups is based on the characteristics of representative vessels and is derived from cost analyses conducted by Statistics Norway.

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.

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