Drewry: Operating cost under upward pressure
JANUARY 22, 2014 — In its just published Ship Operating Costs Annual Review and Forecast, London headquartered Drewry Maritime Research calls 2013 "another difficult year" for most ship operators. With weak freight earnings, there was pressure to keep any increase in ship operating costs to a minimum.
The new Drewry report says operators were able to keep increases in operating costs quite low last year – with increases in total costs typically ranging between 1.0-2.5% depending on the sector in question.
Though new international maritime conventions on safety, manning and the environment are placing upward pressure on some costs, saw depressed hull values and static or weaker commodity prices, which helped keep expenditure on insurance, lubricating oils and repairs (steel) in check.
Commenting on the latest findings Nigel Gardiner, Managing Director, stated:
"Poor freight markets have forced ship operators to keep any increases in ship operating costs to a minimum and our provisional data for 2013 suggests some success in this area," says Drewry Managing Director Nigel Gardiner. "But looking ahead and given the expected outlook for the world economy and international shipping markets we expect to see operating costs rise by 2-3% per annum in the next couple of years".
MANNING
With the exception of LNG, manning costs increased by 1-2% in 2013, as overall fleet growth moderated and pressure was eased on officer supply. Looking ahead as the world comes out of recession and shipping markets improve, upward pressure on manning costs is expected to return with increases being higher than in 2013.
INSURANCE
Shipowners and operators have certainly made a concerted effort to resist any increase in insurance premiums and they have been helped in this respect by weak assets values. But with some markets showing signs of revival in late 2013, and with a general recovery in asset values underway, Drewry expects insurance costs to rise in 2014.
STORES, SPARES & LUBRICATING OILS
Expenditure on items such as lubricating oils has been held in check by weak or static commodity prices, but if the world economy picks up in 2014 and commodity prices rise, costs in this sector are also expected to rise.
REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE
Four years of weak freight markets and in many cases minimum maintenance regimes point to rises in repair and maintenance spending. In 2013 weak steel prices helped to keep increases low, but with new regulations and an element of catch-up in repair due, Drewry expects repair and maintenance expenditure to rise by at least 2.5 to 3% per annum over the next couple of years.
MANAGEMENT & ADMINISTRATION
Increases in M&A spending appear to have been quite low in 2013 – typically less than 1.0%. Drewry says it is of the opinion that operators will do they best to keep increases to a similar figure in the short term.
（译方参考：船舶管理部机务培训分析师 傅恒星编译）
Drewry(德鲁里)咨询：航运业运营成本上升压力
22-Jan.-2014年，德鲁里海事研究所（Drewry Maritime Research）伦敦总部在其刚发行的-船舶运营成本年度回顾和展望中，称2013年对多数的船东来说是“又一个艰难的一年”，不仅运费市场疲软，还要面对如何将持续上升的船舶运营成本维持在最小范围的压力。
最新的Drewry报告显示，在过去的一年经营人能够使运营成本保持很低增长率，增加的总成本根据存在问题的不同，通常介于1.0 - -2.5%之间。
然而，最新生效的关于船舶安全、人员配备和环境方面的国际海事相关公约、规范也给成本支出的上涨带来一定压力，注意到船体价格低迷，并且商品价格相对稳定或疲软，这些有助于抑制并维持了经营人在船舶保险，滑油、修理（钢材）等费用的支出。
根据最近的调查结过，Drewry总经理Nigel Gardiner补充道：
“不景气的货运市场迫使经营人将船舶运营成本的任何增长都压缩至最低，根据我们对收集到的2013年初步资料表明，在成本压缩方面取得了一些成功”Drewry总经理Nigel Gardiner说道。“但是根据对世界经济和国际航运市场的未来前景的预期，在随后数年里我们希望看到航运业的营运成本投入每年能以2-3%的增幅增长”
配员管理
2013年，除LNG船舶外，其他船型的船员成本增加了1-2%，整个船队规模扩张趋缓，高级船员的供需压力消除，展望未来，全球航运市场正走出衰退阴影，正向积极方向发展，船员成本上升的压力正在回归，预期将比2013年增幅更高。
保险
船东和经营人理所当然齐心协力携手抵制任何保险费用的增加，他们在这方面一直通过低估资产价值来减少保费。但是在2013年末，市场似乎显示出复苏的信号，随着资产价值的回升，Drewry预期2014年保费将有所提高。
物料、备件和滑油
在诸如滑油等项目上的支出也是通过相对疲软的或稳定的商品价格得以有效控制，但是如果2014年经济复苏，相关方面的支出预期也会有一定增长。
修理及维护保养
连续4年不景气的航运市场，使得在很多情况下维护保养方面相关费用的上涨比例已被减至最低限度。2013年低迷的钢铁价格有助于稳定维修费用涨幅，但由于新规则的要求及部分项目到规定修理时间的因素， Drewry预测相关船舶在维护保养及修理方面费用的投入，在随后几年里至少会以每年2.5%-3%的增幅上涨。
管理及行政开销
管理及行政方面开销在2013年似乎增加幅度较低，少于1.0%。Drewry的观点认为，在短期内经营人努力使管理及行政方面开销维持在相似的增幅。
