According to Clarkson's research data, the operating costs (OPEX) of the global freight fleet in 2017 exceeded US$100 billion for the first time, up from US$98 billion in 2016. In 2008, the operating cost of the global cargo fleet was 83 billion U.S. dollars.

 

Clarkson pointed out that the operating costs of the fleet in the ship’s employees still account for the largest of all costs, reaching US$43 billion. These funds are allocated to 1.4 million crew members. Management costs accounted for the second largest proportion of seafarer operating costs, totaling US$ 9.2 billion, followed by US$ 7.7 billion for maintenance costs, and US$ 5 billion for storage and lubrication costs. In addition, there are $4.6 billion in costs for insurance expenses, $3.4 billion in costs for ship protection and compensation (P&I), and $3.2 billion in costs for fixed supply. At the same time, the cost of groceries costs US$4.3 billion and the cost of other units costs US$6.9 billion.

 

In the past few years, due to the continuous loss of offshore business from the offshore industry to the shipping, bulk shipping and oil shipping industries, the shipping industry is under considerable pressure to maintain competitiveness and reduce costs.

 

Clarkson pointed out that in order to make the shipping industry more intelligent, collect and use "big data", technology and automation continue to attract industry investment. The cost in this area (regardless of the operating costs of the ship) is obviously a considerable goal. Therefore, the shipping industry will need new technologies, skills and new accounting methods.