Maritime Statistics – a forum Maritime Statistics – availability and reliability.

Maritime Statistics – a forumMaritime Statistics – a forum

Maritime Statistics Maritime Statistics

– – availability and reliabilityavailability and reliability

Maritime Policy and Management vol 36 Maritime Policy and Management vol 36 number 2, April 2009number 2, April 2009

David Glen and Peter Marlow David Glen and Peter Marlow

““Maritime statistics: a new forum for Maritime statistics: a new forum for practitioners”practitioners”

There has been an expansion of both the There has been an expansion of both the type and range of data available to the type and range of data available to the maritime researcher in the past 25 years, as maritime researcher in the past 25 years, as electronic data storage and retrieval have electronic data storage and retrieval have lowered the costs of holding and processing lowered the costs of holding and processing information, and interest in the area has information, and interest in the area has expanded along with its size, as it responds expanded along with its size, as it responds to the expansion of world trade.to the expansion of world trade.

The paper tries to assess:The paper tries to assess:- the present state of global maritime the present state of global maritime

informationinformation- provide a systematic outline of the provide a systematic outline of the

strengths/weaknesses of existing datastrengths/weaknesses of existing data

-- identify where new data are neededidentify where new data are needed

The paper was written in response to recent The paper was written in response to recent moves towards linking the work of members moves towards linking the work of members of the International Association of Maritime of the International Association of Maritime Economics (IAME), with that of their Economics (IAME), with that of their colleagues in the International Maritime colleagues in the International Maritime Statistics Forum (IMSF). Statistics Forum (IMSF).

It is to be seen very much as a starting point It is to be seen very much as a starting point for discussion.for discussion.

In the paper comments are divided into In the paper comments are divided into sections relating to:sections relating to:

1. Macroeconomic data sets1. Macroeconomic data sets

2. Trade flow data2. Trade flow data

3. Shipping market operations3. Shipping market operations

4. Port and ancillary industry operations4. Port and ancillary industry operations

5. Environmental, regulatory and policy 5. Environmental, regulatory and policy needs.needs.

MACRO-ECONOMIC DATA SETSMACRO-ECONOMIC DATA SETS

Macroeconomic data sets are probably the Macroeconomic data sets are probably the most reliable and widely available. most reliable and widely available. Electronic databases, such as those Electronic databases, such as those provided by the IMF and UN contain global provided by the IMF and UN contain global information on the macro variables of most information on the macro variables of most of the world’s economies. At the national of the world’s economies. At the national level, the amount and quality of such level, the amount and quality of such information is excellent.information is excellent.

Such macro economic data would includeSuch macro economic data would include

GDP growth ratesGDP growth rates Industrial production indicesIndustrial production indices Interest ratesInterest rates Exchange ratesExchange rates Trade balance Trade balance

all widely available at no cost through state all widely available at no cost through state agencies.agencies.

TRADE FLOW DATATRADE FLOW DATA

Trade flow and world trade data have also Trade flow and world trade data have also improved through, for example, the creation of the improved through, for example, the creation of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its World Trade Organization (WTO) and its information sources. Trade policy profiles are now information sources. Trade policy profiles are now available on each country, and trade flow data for available on each country, and trade flow data for a wide number of commodities and countries are a wide number of commodities and countries are readily available, at least in value terms. readily available, at least in value terms.

Trade figures in volume terms are difficult to Trade figures in volume terms are difficult to obtain for shipping.obtain for shipping.


Trade flows between and within trading Trade flows between and within trading areas such as those covered by the areas such as those covered by the Common Market of the South Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR), the North American Free (MERCOSUR), the North American Free Trade Agreement (Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the NAFTA), and the Economic Union (EU) blocs are also Economic Union (EU) blocs are also available. available.


At the commodity level, commodity flows At the commodity level, commodity flows between countries in volume terms are more between countries in volume terms are more problematic. The UN commodity trade problematic. The UN commodity trade database provides information down to database provides information down to certain Standard International Trade certain Standard International Trade Classification (SITC) codes, but these data Classification (SITC) codes, but these data are probably less than are probably less than perfect and often perfect and often suffer from time lags.suffer from time lags.

TRADE FLOW DATATRADE FLOW DATA Every maritime economist knows that 90% of the world’s Every maritime economist knows that 90% of the world’s trade moves by sea. Is this a myth?trade moves by sea. Is this a myth?

An IMSF paper delivered by Mandryk revisited the question An IMSF paper delivered by Mandryk revisited the question of modal splits of world trade. He estimated that in 2004 the of modal splits of world trade. He estimated that in 2004 the modal share of sea transport was 77% by volume and 58% modal share of sea transport was 77% by volume and 58% by value. Broadly similar magnitudes (75% and 56%?) by value. Broadly similar magnitudes (75% and 56%?) occurred in 2006.occurred in 2006.

Modal split statistics are very difficult to obtain on a global Modal split statistics are very difficult to obtain on a global basis.basis.

At the national level, matching trade flow data to specific At the national level, matching trade flow data to specific ports can be problematic.ports can be problematic.

SHIPPING MARKET OPERATIONSSHIPPING MARKET OPERATIONS

This area is very large, as it covers the This area is very large, as it covers the provision of rate information in the principal provision of rate information in the principal shipping markets, from short sea, container shipping markets, from short sea, container traffic, dry bulk and wet bulk markets, traffic, dry bulk and wet bulk markets, chemical and products tankers, Liquified chemical and products tankers, Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquified Natural Petroleum Gas (LPG) and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) markets, passenger ferries and Gas (LNG) markets, passenger ferries and cruise vessels. Data are generally good and cruise vessels. Data are generally good and available from privately owned sources.available from privately owned sources.


Raw data are available through BIMCO, and Raw data are available through BIMCO, and many well-known and highly respected many well-known and highly respected brokers/research groups, such as brokers/research groups, such as Clarkson’s, Gibson’s, Galbraith’s, Braemar Clarkson’s, Gibson’s, Galbraith’s, Braemar Seascope, Drewry’s and Petroleum Seascope, Drewry’s and Petroleum Economics, as well as Lloyd’s Shipping Economics, as well as Lloyd’s Shipping Economist, to name but a few (Anglo-Economist, to name but a few (Anglo-centric) sources.centric) sources.


Information on the cost elements is also variable. Information on the cost elements is also variable. New building and second-hand prices are readily New building and second-hand prices are readily available. Adequate data exists for scrap values.available. Adequate data exists for scrap values.Operating costs are more problematic including, as Operating costs are more problematic including, as they do, such diverse elements as management they do, such diverse elements as management fees, stores, lubricants and total crew costs. There fees, stores, lubricants and total crew costs. There is a wide range of wage rates for crew. is a wide range of wage rates for crew. There is a general lack of reliable information on There is a general lack of reliable information on seafarer numbers. Data on seafarer supply are seafarer numbers. Data on seafarer supply are particular difficult, especially for ratings.particular difficult, especially for ratings.


For voyage costs, bunker costs are the key. For voyage costs, bunker costs are the key. Bunker prices are available commercially. Bunker prices are available commercially. Port/terminal dues are variable and for some Port/terminal dues are variable and for some parts of the world such information is still not parts of the world such information is still not easy to find. Available through Intercargo or easy to find. Available through Intercargo or Intertanko if a member.Intertanko if a member.


Information on each ship’s particulars, and Information on each ship’s particulars, and ownership, used to be available through ownership, used to be available through several databases, including Fairplay and several databases, including Fairplay and Lloyd’s Register (now merged into the LRF Lloyd’s Register (now merged into the LRF database), LMIU and other sources, such as database), LMIU and other sources, such as tanker brokers for tanker fleets. tanker brokers for tanker fleets. All are privately owned. Discrepancies exist All are privately owned. Discrepancies exist between these databases for certain ships. between these databases for certain ships. Estimates of total fleet size can vary Estimates of total fleet size can vary depending upon the choice of data sources. depending upon the choice of data sources.


A topic of related interest is an attempt to A topic of related interest is an attempt to standardize the measure of ship capacity, capacity standardize the measure of ship capacity, capacity is measured in deadweight tonnes, or TEUs, or is measured in deadweight tonnes, or TEUs, or cubic metres, or lane metres, or passenger cubic metres, or lane metres, or passenger capacity, depending on ship type. capacity, depending on ship type.

One of the ongoing interests of the IMSF is to try One of the ongoing interests of the IMSF is to try to introduce such a standardized unit. Cridland has to introduce such a standardized unit. Cridland has introduced the idea of measuring a ship’s ‘steel introduced the idea of measuring a ship’s ‘steel footprint’.footprint’.

PORT RELATED DATAPORT RELATED DATA

Port operations and port performance are of Port operations and port performance are of particular interest, especially as port reform has particular interest, especially as port reform has been a common element in many countries been a common element in many countries following the privatization path. The literature following the privatization path. The literature contains many studies of port efficiency gains and contains many studies of port efficiency gains and port productivity comparisons. But privatisation has port productivity comparisons. But privatisation has caused data problems.caused data problems.Furthermore some continents’ ports do not figure Furthermore some continents’ ports do not figure in any of these studies - data for African ports are in any of these studies - data for African ports are patchy and inconsistent. Finding accurate patchy and inconsistent. Finding accurate information on a consistent basis is extremely information on a consistent basis is extremely difficult.difficult.

ENVIRONMENT AND SAFETYENVIRONMENT AND SAFETY

The final section of the paper refers to regulation, The final section of the paper refers to regulation, protecting the environment and safety. protecting the environment and safety.

Data on oil spills (size and volume) are available Data on oil spills (size and volume) are available through the International Tanker Owners Pollution through the International Tanker Owners Pollution Forum (ITOPF) and other sources such as the US Forum (ITOPF) and other sources such as the US Coastguard, while clean-up costs for particular Coastguard, while clean-up costs for particular incidents can be obtained from the Annual Reports incidents can be obtained from the Annual Reports of the International Oil Pollution Compensation of the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund. Fund.


Data on maritime accidents are available Data on maritime accidents are available from sources such as Lloyd’s Maritime from sources such as Lloyd’s Maritime Information Service. Port state control Information Service. Port state control information is also very useful as a means of information is also very useful as a means of targeting ships for inspection. The EU has targeting ships for inspection. The EU has its own European Quality Shipping its own European Quality Shipping Information System (EQUASIS) database Information System (EQUASIS) database covering European ports and states. Some covering European ports and states. Some private companies also maintain such private companies also maintain such information on a global basis.information on a global basis.


A topical issue is ship emissions and climate A topical issue is ship emissions and climate change. There is a relative lack of change. There is a relative lack of environmental material on GHG and particle environmental material on GHG and particle emissions.emissions.

Several papers at last year’s IMSF meeting Several papers at last year’s IMSF meeting in Gdansk addressed these issues.in Gdansk addressed these issues.

Studies from Austria,

Stockholm, US.


A great deal of the practically oriented work A great deal of the practically oriented work in this area has been undertaken by in this area has been undertaken by consultants such as Marintek, Eniac and consultants such as Marintek, Eniac and Lloyd’s Register Fairplay. The MEPC of Lloyd’s Register Fairplay. The MEPC of the IMO also produce occasional reports.the IMO also produce occasional reports.

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

There are tremendous opportunities for the There are tremendous opportunities for the further improvement of maritime data and its further improvement of maritime data and its dissemination and use by interested industry dissemination and use by interested industry practitioners, researchers and policy practitioners, researchers and policy makers. The introduction of a section for makers. The introduction of a section for practitioners in the journal of Maritime practitioners in the journal of Maritime Policy and Management is intended to Policy and Management is intended to provide a means towards achieving that provide a means towards achieving that goal.goal.

NEXT STEPSNEXT STEPS

MPM maritime statistics sectionMPM maritime statistics section Annual conferences – Annual conferences –

IMSFIMSF New Orleans (2009), China (2010) New Orleans (2009), China (2010) IAMEIAME Copenhagen (2009), Lisbon (2010)Copenhagen (2009), Lisbon (2010)

MoUMoU

Thank you for your attention

Maritime Statistics – a forum Maritime Statistics – availability and reliability.

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