2025-06-182024/25:TU15 · p.3TUTransport & infrastructure

Fairway Fees, Port Fees and Pilotage

The design of fairway and pilotage fees and pilotage rules

What's at stake: The decision affects shipping's competitiveness relative to road and rail transport, and how quickly changes to fees and pilotage rules - for example better environmental differentiation for electric vessels - can be brought about.

Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.

What the vote decides

The question is whether the government should now be given new tasks to review pilotage costs, pilotage requirements and the split between fee-based and grant-based funding across shipping and other modes of transport, or whether ongoing government reviews of the fee system should be allowed to conclude before further measures are considered.

Yes Yes — the committee proposal

The committee notes that the design of fairway and pilotage fees is already receiving considerable attention, including through the Swedish Agency for Public Management's ongoing review of the Maritime Administration's fee financing and a project ahead of the next fee review, and that new, more risk-based pilotage rules have already taken effect. The committee looks forward with interest to the outcome of that ongoing work and therefore rejects the motions calling for further mandates.

No No — the reservations

Reservation 7 (C)

The reservation (C) wants the government to task relevant authorities with reviewing how pilotage costs can be reduced, introduce more function-based pilotage requirements aligned with continental rules, review the split between fee-based and grant-based funding of shipping versus road and rail, and develop a bonus-malus model for environmentally differentiated fairway fees. The reasoning is that shipping has spare capacity for more freight but that the competitive conditions between modes of transport need to be levelled out, and that current environmental differentiation disadvantages, for example, electric vessels.

Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.

VSMPCLKDMSD
YesNoAbstainAbsent

What do the votes mean here?

Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).

No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 7 by C.

Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.

What each plan points to — and how the party voted

For each party: the vote its own election manifesto and party programme point to in this case, next to how the party actually voted. A plan can only point to Yes or No; a party can also abstain.

PlanVoteConfidenceEvidence
VNoYes 20/0/0/4departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
SNoAbstain 0/0/92/14departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
MPNoAbstain 0/0/15/3departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
Cown reservationNoNo 0/20/0/4follows the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
LNoYes 14/0/0/2departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
KDNoYes 15/0/1/3departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
MNoYes 59/0/0/9departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed
SDNoAbstain 1/0/62/9departs from the planconfidence: mediumnot addressed

Broke with the party line

KDMikael Oscarsson (KD, Uppsala län)Abstain — party line: Yes
SDJosef Fransson (SD, Jämtlands län)Yes — party line: Abstain

MPs whose vote differs from their party's majority position in this division. Marked with a dark ring in the chamber view.

Committee proposal

The Riksdag rejects the motions 2024/25:1425 by Thomas Morell et al. (SD) points 8, 9 and 18, 2024/25:2613 by Elin Söderberg et al. (MP) point 132, 2024/25:2947 by Ulrika Heie et al. (C) points 57, 58 and 83, 2024/25:3037 by Daniel Helldén et al. (MP) points 162, 163 and 166 and 2024/25:3126 by Gunilla Svantorp et al. (S) point 73.

Original (Swedish)

Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2024/25:1425 av Thomas Morell m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 8, 9 och 18, 2024/25:2613 av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP) yrkande 132, 2024/25:2947 av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C) yrkandena 57, 58 och 83, 2024/25:3037 av Daniel Helldén m.fl. (MP) yrkandena 162, 163 och 166 samt 2024/25:3126 av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S) yrkande 73.

Riksdag decision: The Riksdag has considered the government's letter regarding the National Audit Office's report on the state's efforts to reduce shipping emissions of harmful substances into the sea. The National Audit Office finds that the environment in Swedish waters is heavily burdened and does not achieve good environmental status. If extensive measures are not taken, it is expected to have negative consequences for both the environment and society. The National Audit Office's recommendations to the government include, among other things, introducing a ban as soon as possible on discharges of so-called scrubber water, that is, wash water from ships' exhaust gas cleaning systems, in Sweden's entire territorial waters. In its letter, the government essentially agrees with the National Audit Office's recommendations and has implemented or plans measures to address issues covered by the recommendations. The Riksdag filed the government's letter and concluded the matter. The Riksdag also rejected 80 proposals in motions on maritime issues from the regular motion period 2024. In part by reference to planned or already implemented measures and ongoing work. The proposals cover, for example, Swedish shipping competitiveness, icebreaking, environmental issues and recreational boating matters.

Counter-proposals

Plan vs actual vote

Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.

VVänsterpartietNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan's decisive commitment is that heavy transport shall be directed to rail and sustainable shipping, which presupposes that fee and pilot conditions do not disadvantage shipping compared to other modes of transport.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan's decisive commitment is that heavy transport shall be directed to rail and sustainable shipping, which presupposes that fee and pilot conditions do not disadvantage shipping compared to other modes of transport. The counter-proposal's demands for review of pilot costs and of the distribution between fee and budget financing aim precisely to level the conditions. That environmental differentiation shall incentivize electric-driven vessels aligns with the plan's demands for electrified and sustainable transport.

Original (Swedish)

Planens avgörande åtagande är att tunga transporter ska styras till järnväg och hållbar sjöfart, vilket förutsätter att avgifts- och lotsvillkoren inte missgynnar sjöfarten gentemot andra trafikslag. Motförslagets krav på översyn av lotskostnader och av fördelningen mellan avgifts- och anslagsfinansiering syftar just till att jämna ut villkoren. Att miljödifferentieringen ska premiera eldrivna fartyg ligger i linje med planens krav på elektrifierade och hållbara transporter.

  • goods to rail and shippingdecisive»Tunga transporter behöver styras till järnväg och hållbar sjöfart.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Heavy transport needs to be directed to rail and sustainable shipping.”
  • electrification of transport»en sammanhållen strategi för elektrifiering av transporterna« (party programme ↗)“a coherent strategy for electrification of transport”
  • sustainable fuels in transport system»För att göra såväl person- som godstransporter hållbara behöver vägnätet både elektrifieras och kompletteras med infrastruktur för andra hållbara drivmedel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“To make both passenger and freight transport sustainable the road network needs to be both electrified and complemented with infrastructure for other sustainable fuels.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

SSocialdemokraternaNoAbstaindeparts from the plannot addressed

The party programme states that the principle of the polluter pays should be applied in full and that climate-smart travel should be the cheaper alternative, which supports the demand for a bonus malus model for environmentally differentiated fairway charges.

Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The party programme states that the principle of the polluter pays should be applied in full and that climate-smart travel should be the cheaper alternative, which supports the demand for a bonus malus model for environmentally differentiated fairway charges. That electrification should work for industry and society speaks against charges that disadvantage electric vessels. Reviewing pilot costs and the division between charge and appropriation financing is in line with state investments that increase the pace of transition, even though the plan does not directly address shipping charges.

Original (Swedish)

Partiprogrammet slår fast att principen om att förorenaren betalar ska tillämpas fullt ut och att klimatsmart resande ska vara det billigare alternativet, vilket bär kravet på en bonus malus-modell för miljödifferentierade farledsavgifter. Att elektrifieringen ska fungera för industri och samhälle talar mot avgifter som missgynnar eldrivna fartyg. Att se över lotskostnader och fördelningen mellan avgifts- och anslagsfinansiering ligger i linje med statliga investeringar som ökar takten i omställningen, även om planen inte nämner sjöfartens avgifter direkt.

  • polluter-pays principle guides chargesdecisive»Principen om att förorenaren betalar tillämpas fullt ut.« (party programme ↗)“The principle of the polluter pays is applied in full.”
  • sustainable transport should be profitable»Klimatsmart resande som det billigare alternativet.« (party programme ↗)“Climate-smart travel as the cheaper alternative.”
  • electrification must not be penalised»Elektrifiering som fungerar för människor, industri och samhälle.« (party programme ↗)“Electrification that works for people, industry and society.”
  • state steering of transition»Genom statliga investeringar kan vi öka takten i industrins omställning och underlätta ett klimatsmart liv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Through state investments we can increase the pace of industry's transition and facilitate a climate-smart life.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

MPMiljöpartietNoAbstaindeparts from the plannot addressed

The crucial commitment is that railways, shipping and combined terminals shall be expanded so that road transport of goods decreases, which requires that shipping's cost and fee conditions be aligned with other modes of transport.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The crucial commitment is that railways, shipping and combined terminals shall be expanded so that road transport of goods decreases, which requires that shipping's cost and fee conditions be aligned with other modes of transport. The plan also wants economic instruments to make environmentally friendly alternatives cheaper and environmentally harmful ones more expensive, which is exactly what a bonus-malus model for environmentally differentiated fairway charges means for, for example, electric ships. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal's task, while maintaining that environmental costs should be visible in the price.

Original (Swedish)

Det avgörande åtagandet är att järnväg, sjöfart och kombiterminaler ska byggas ut så att godstransporterna på väg minskar, vilket förutsätter att sjöfartens kostnads- och avgiftsvillkor jämnas ut mot övriga trafikslag. Planen vill dessutom att ekonomiska styrmedel ska göra miljövänliga alternativ billigare och miljöskadliga dyrare, vilket är just vad en bonus malus-modell för miljödifferentierade farledsavgifter innebär för exempelvis elektriska fartyg. Planen stöder därför motförslagets uppdrag, samtidigt som den håller fast vid att miljökostnader ska synas i priset.

  • goods from road to sea and raildecisive»Vi vill bygga ut och utveckla järnväg, sjöfart och kombiterminaler så att godstransporter på väg kan minska.« (party programme ↗)“We want to expand and develop railways, shipping and combined terminals so that road transport of goods can decrease.”
  • instruments that reward the green»De ekonomiska styrmedlen bör vara en kombination av åtgärder som gör mer miljövänliga alternativ billigare och de miljöskadliga dyrare att använda.« (party programme ↗)“Economic instruments should be a combination of measures that make more environmentally friendly alternatives cheaper and the environmentally harmful more expensive to use.”
  • the polluter pays through fees»Kostnader som drabbar miljön eller annan part ska inkluderas i priset genom skatter, avgifter eller andra lämpliga instrument.« (party programme ↗)“Costs that harm the environment or another party shall be included in the price through taxes, fees or other appropriate instruments.”
  • combined land and sea transport»Sverige har en lång kust med väl fungerande hamnar som ger goda förutsättningar att förbättra energieffektiviteten genom att kombinera land och sjötransporter.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden has a long coast with well-functioning ports that provide good conditions to improve energy efficiency by combining land and sea transport.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

CCenterpartietNoNofollows the plannot addressed

The plan states that more needs to be done for shipping to be able to transition with strengthened competitiveness, which is the core of the counter-proposal's demand for lower pilot costs and levelled conditions between transport modes.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan states that more needs to be done for shipping to be able to transition with strengthened competitiveness, which is the core of the counter-proposal's demand for lower pilot costs and levelled conditions between transport modes. The principle that it should always pay to be environmentally responsible supports a bonus malus model where environmental differentiation does not disadvantage emission-free vessels. The demand for competition-neutral regulations supports the review of fee versus appropriation financing. The plan therefore supports the counter-proposal in substance.

Original (Swedish)

Planen slår fast att mer behöver göras för att sjöfarten ska kunna ställa om med stärkt konkurrenskraft, vilket är kärnan i motförslagets krav på sänkta lotskostnader och utjämnade villkor mellan trafikslagen. Principen att det alltid ska löna sig att vara miljövårdande talar för en bonus malus-modell där miljödifferentieringen inte missgynnar utsläppsfria fartyg. Kravet på konkurrensneutrala regelverk stöder översynen av avgifts- respektive anslagsfinansiering. Planen stöder därför motförslaget i sak.

  • strengthened competitiveness for shippingdecisive»Mer behöver göras för att flyget, sjöfarten och jordbruket ska kunna ställa om till förnybara drivmedel med stärkt konkurrenskraft.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More needs to be done for aviation, shipping and agriculture to be able to transition to renewable fuels with strengthened competitiveness.”
  • environmentally steering charges»Det ska alltid vara lönsamt att vara miljövårdande och olönsamt att agera miljöförstörande.« (party programme ↗)“It should always be profitable to be environmentally responsible and unprofitable to act in an environmentally destructive way.”
  • competition-neutral regulations»Viktigt är också att näringslivet får konkurrensneutrala regelverk som möjliggör utveckling på en« (party programme ↗)“Important is also that businesses get competition-neutral regulations that enable development on a”
  • emission-free transport»Transporternas utsläpp ska bort och ny utsläppsfri infrastruktur ska komma på plats.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Transport emissions must be eliminated and new emission-free infrastructure must be put in place.”
LLiberalernaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan emphasizes maritime transport's role for cargo with low climate emissions and requires that all transport modes bear their climate costs and that electrification be accelerated.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The plan emphasizes maritime transport's role for cargo with low climate emissions and requires that all transport modes bear their climate costs and that electrification be accelerated. The counter-proposal's requirements for reduced pilotage costs, more level competition conditions between transport modes, and environmentally differentiated fairway fees that do not disadvantage electric vessels follow from these commitments. The plan also wants more projects to be financed through fees, which presupposes that the fee structure is fit for purpose.

Original (Swedish)

Planen lyfter sjöfartens roll för gods med låga klimatutsläpp och kräver att alla transportslag bär sina klimatkostnader och att elektrifieringen påskyndas. Motförslagets krav på sänkta lotskostnader, jämnare konkurrensvillkor mellan trafikslagen och miljödifferentierade farledsavgifter som inte missgynnar elfartyg följer av dessa åtaganden. Planen vill också att fler projekt kan avgiftsfinansieras, vilket förutsätter att avgiftsstrukturen är ändamålsenlig.

  • maritime transport as part of infrastructuredecisive»Goda möjligheter till sjötransporter är ett viktigt inslag i infrastrukturen.« (party programme ↗)“Good opportunities for maritime transport are an important part of the infrastructure.”
  • all transport modes bear climate costs»Beroendet av fossila bränslen måste brytas och alla transportslag måste stå för sina« (party programme ↗)“Dependence on fossil fuels must be broken and all transport modes must bear their”
  • accelerated electrification»Elektrifieringen av transportsektorn ska påskyndas.« (party programme ↗)“Electrification of the transport sector shall be accelerated.”
  • fee-financed infrastructure»För att höja investeringstakten ska fler nya projekt kunna avgiftsfinansieras.« (party programme ↗)“To raise the investment rate, more new projects should be able to be financed through fees.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

KDKristdemokraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The party programme wants Sweden's position as a maritime nation to be strong through long-term and competitive conditions and that each transport mode bear its own socioeconomic costs.

Plan documents: party programme

Reasoning and quotes

The party programme wants Sweden's position as a maritime nation to be strong through long-term and competitive conditions and that each transport mode bear its own socioeconomic costs. The counter-proposal's demand for review of pilot costs, of the division between fee and appropriation financing and of environmental differentiation aims at precisely that cost correctness. That policy instruments should favor the most environmentally efficient transport systems speaks for a functioning bonus malus model.

Original (Swedish)

Principprogrammet vill att Sveriges ställning som sjöfartsnation är stark genom långsiktiga och konkurrenskraftiga villkor och att varje transportslag bär sina egna samhällsekonomiska kostnader. Motförslagets krav på översyn av lotskostnader, av fördelningen mellan avgifts- och anslagsfinansiering samt av miljödifferentieringen syftar till just den kostnadsriktigheten. Att styrmedel ska gynna de miljömässigt mest effektiva transportsystemen talar för en fungerande bonus malus-modell.

  • competitive conditions for shippingdecisive»Sveriges ställning som sjöfartsnation bör vara stark genom långsiktiga och konkurrenskraftiga villkor.« (party programme ↗)“Sweden's position as a maritime nation should be strong through long-term and competitive conditions.”
  • transport mode bears own costs»Målet ska vara att respektive transportslag bär sina egna samhällsekonomiska kostnader.« (party programme ↗)“The goal shall be that each transport mode bears its own socioeconomic costs.”
  • instruments for efficient transport»Ekonomiska och legala styrmedel ska utformas så att de samhällsekonomiskt och miljömässigt mest effektiva kommunikationssystemen stimuleras.« (party programme ↗)“Economic and legal policy instruments shall be designed so that the socioeconomically and environmentally most efficient communication systems are stimulated.”
  • develop alternatives to road»Alternativen till vägtransporter ska utvecklas, inte minst för arbetspendling.« (party programme ↗)“Alternatives to road transport shall be developed, not least for commuting.”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

MModeraternaNoYesdeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan commits to removing a third of red tape for companies, shortening government agencies' processing times and as the main rule implementing EU regulations at minimum level.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan commits to removing a third of red tape for companies, shortening government agencies' processing times and as the main rule implementing EU regulations at minimum level. A mandate to lower the cost of pilotage, make pilot requirements function-based and adapted to international regulations and review fee-based financing lies directly in line with this. Environmental differentiation is more peripheral in the plan, but the main requirement for lower costs and reasonable requirements is supported.

Original (Swedish)

Planen åtar sig att ta bort en tredjedel av regelkrånglet för företag, korta myndigheternas handläggningstider och som huvudregel genomföra EU-regler på miniminivå. Ett uppdrag att sänka kostnaden för lotsning, göra lotskraven funktionsbaserade och anpassade till internationella regler samt se över avgiftsfinansieringen ligger direkt i linje med detta. Miljödifferentieringen är mer perifer i planen, men huvudkravet om lägre kostnader och rimligare krav stöds.

  • reduced red tapedecisive»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove a third of companies' administration costs and a third of red tape”
  • EU rules at minimum level»Minska regelkrånglet och onödig byråkrati, bland annat genom att motverka överimplementering i Sverige av EU-beslut – som huvudregel ska EU-direktiv genomföras på miniminivå« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Reduce red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy, among other things by preventing over-implementation in Sweden of EU decisions - as the main rule EU directives shall be implemented at minimum level”
  • shorter processing times»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten government agencies' processing times through a deadline”

flags: citat_migrerat

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

SDSverigedemokraternaNoAbstaindeparts from the plannot addressed

The plan commits to strengthening Swedish shipping and emphasizes that shipping is part of total defense and of imports and exports.

Plan documents: 2022 manifesto

Reasoning and quotes

The plan commits to strengthening Swedish shipping and emphasizes that shipping is part of total defense and of imports and exports. The counter-proposal's requirement for reduced pilot costs, function-based pilot requirements and an equalization of conditions between transport sectors follows from the plan seeing all transport modes as necessary and opposing fees that hinder the industry. Environmental differentiation is secondary in relation to competitiveness.

Original (Swedish)

Planen åtar sig att stärka svensk sjöfart och betonar att sjöfarten är en del av totalförsvaret och av import och export. Motförslagets krav på sänkta lotskostnader, funktionsbaserade lotskrav och en utjämning av villkoren mellan trafikslagen följer av att planen ser samtliga transportslag som nödvändiga och vänder sig mot avgifter som hämmar näringen. Miljödifferentieringen är sekundär i förhållande till konkurrenskraften.

  • stärkt svensk sjöfartdecisive»Stärka svensk sjöfart« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen Swedish shipping”
  • sjöfart i totalförsvaret»Vi behöver även stärka den svenska sjöfarten för att säkra arbets- och utbildningstillfällen men inte minst för att sjöfarten är en del av totalförsvaret.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We also need to strengthen Swedish shipping to secure employment and education opportunities but not least because shipping is part of total defense.”
  • alla trafikslag behövs»Sverigedemokraterna anser att samtliga transportslag, inklusive bil och flyg, är viktiga för att samhället ska fungera.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats consider that all transport modes, including car and air, are important for society to function.”
  • konkurrenskraftiga pålagor»Ha skatter på en nivå som inte hämmar svenska företag i den internationella konkurrensen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Have taxes at a level that does not hinder Swedish companies in international competition”

The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.

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Sources and documents

Documents under consideration

Source: The Swedish Parliament