Norway's merchant fleet slightly reduced

After remaining at about the same level for five years, the Norwegian Merchant Fleet saw a slight fall at the end of 2014.The number of vessels fell by 19, along with a reduction in gross tonnage of 832 000.

The Norwegian Merchant Fleet had 1 369 vessels and a gross tonnage of 15.2 million at the end of the year.

The NOR register with its 885 ships and 2 million gross tonnage at the end of 2014 saw a 0.3 per cent reduction in the number of ships and a 1.7 per cent fall in gross tonnage year-on-year. For the NIS register and its 484 ships and 14 million gross tonnage at the end of 2014, the corresponding reductions were 3.2 and 5.7 per cent.

The number of tankers in NIS fell by ten from last year, with a reduction in gross tonnage of 338 000. Despite many tankers leaving NIS, the largest fall in gross tonnage emanated from the four dry bulk vessels that also left. Gross tonnage in dry bulk vessels has fallen by 364 000 over the last year.

Most of the offshore vessels are found in NOR, which at the end of 2014 had 188 of this ship type and a gross tonnage of 838 000. The number of vessels has increased by three and the gross tonnage has increased by 32 000 since last year.

NIS had 116 offshore vessels and a gross tonnage of 466 000 at the end of 2014, which is six vessels and 33 000 tonnes more than a year ago.

Most of the offshore vessels are relatively new. A total of 128 (out of 304) vessels were between 0 and 4 years old at the end of 2014. 

(Press release)