2024-06-122023/24:TU17 · p.4TUTransport & infrastructure
Fairway Charges and Pilotage
Fairway dues and pilotage fees for Swedish shipping
What's at stake: Unlike road and rail transport, which is funded through the Transport Administration, shipping is funded through fees via the Maritime Administration. High pilotage and fairway dues can make it more expensive to move freight on inland waterways and at sea, working against a swift shift of freight from road to shipping.
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 fairway and pilotage fees should be reviewed and lowered to strengthen shipping's competitiveness against road transport, or whether the current fee model for the Maritime Administration should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee highlights the importance of a strong, competitive shipping industry and points to initiatives already carried out and the national freight-transport strategy for shifting freight from road to sea. The committee therefore sees no reason to take a specific initiative on pilotage and fairway dues at this time and rejects the motion.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 6 (S)
The reservation (S) wants a review aimed at reducing pilotage and fairway dues, which particularly affect domestic Swedish shipping. The reasoning is that the Maritime Administration, unlike the Transport Administration, is fee-funded, which puts shipping at a disadvantage in competing with road transport on equal terms; such a review could quickly increase capacity on inland waterways and take pressure off road and rail.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 6 by S.
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.
| Plan | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| S | No | No 0/91/0/15 | follows the plan | confidence: low | not addressed |
| MP | No | Yes 15/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| C | No | Abstain 0/1/20/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | derived |
| L | Yes | Yes 12/0/0/4 | follows the plan | confidence: low | derived |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 58/0/0/10 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Abstain 0/0/63/9 | departs from the plan | confidence: medium | not addressed |
Broke with the party line
| CMartin Ådahl (C, Stockholms kommun) | No — 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 2023/24:401 by Jimmy Ståhl et al. (SD) amendments 9, 11-14 and 22, 2023/24:2465 by Ulrika Heie et al. (C) amendments 35, 36 and 85 and 2023/24:2625 by Gunilla Svantorp et al. (S) amendment 52.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motionerna 2023/24:401 av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD) yrkandena 9, 11-14 och 22, 2023/24:2465 av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C) yrkandena 35, 36 och 85 samt 2023/24:2625 av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S) yrkande 52.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected approximately 70 proposals on shipping matters in motions from the general motion period 2023. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to work already being underway in the issues the proposals address. The proposals deal, among other things, with Swedish shipping competitiveness, the Shipping Board's environmental issues, and recreational boating matters.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants the government to work forcefully against ship reflagging to secure a strong and well-functioning shipping industry. (S) — Reservation 6
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.
The election manifesto establishes that heavy transport needs to be directed to rail and sustainable shipping, and the party programme that prices in infrastructure should be based on socio-economic goals rather than full fee-based financing.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto establishes that heavy transport needs to be directed to rail and sustainable shipping, and the party programme that prices in infrastructure should be based on socio-economic goals rather than full fee-based financing. The counter-proposal's requirement for a review to reduce pilotage and fairway charges, which disadvantage domestic shipping compared to road, follows that line. The plan also requires a comprehensive and long-term investment plan for transport.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet slår fast att tunga transporter behöver styras till järnväg och hållbar sjöfart, och partiprogrammet att priser i infrastrukturen ska utgå från samhällsekonomiska mål snarare än full avgiftsfinansiering. Motförslagets krav på en översyn för att sänka lots- och farledsavgifterna, som missgynnar inhemsk sjöfart jämfört med väg, följer den linjen. Planen kräver också en omfattande och långsiktig investeringsplan för transporterna.
- freight 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.”
- prices based on socio-economic goals»investeringar och priser behöver utgå från samhällsekonomiska mål.« (party programme ↗)“investments and prices need to be based on socio-economic goals.”
- long-term transport investment plan»Det behövs en omfattande och långsiktig investeringsplan för det,« (party programme ↗)“There is a need for a comprehensive and long-term investment plan for it,”
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.
The party programme wants to reform transport systems so that road transport is replaced with railway transport and maritime traffic, which requires that maritime transport can compete on reasonable terms.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme wants to reform transport systems so that road transport is replaced with railway transport and maritime traffic, which requires that maritime transport can compete on reasonable terms. A review that reduces pilot and fairway fees for domestic maritime transport is a means for that shift. The plan says nothing about fees as such, which is why the position is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet vill lägga om transportsystemen så att vägtransporter ersätts med järnvägstransporter och sjötrafik, vilket förutsätter att sjöfarten kan konkurrera på rimliga villkor. En översyn som minskar lots- och farledsavgifterna för den inhemska sjöfarten är ett medel för den överflyttningen. Planen säger inget om avgifterna som sådana, varför ställningstagandet är härlett.
- goods from road to maritime transportdecisive»vägtransporter ersätts med järnvägstransporter och sjötrafik.« (party programme ↗)“road transport is replaced with railway transport and maritime traffic.”
- functioning infrastructure»Ett framgångsrikt näringsliv kräver en väl fungerande infrastruktur.« (party programme ↗)“A successful business requires well-functioning infrastructure.”
- investments in transport system»satsningar på utbyggd kollektivtrafik, vägar och järnvägar« (party programme ↗)“investments in expanded public transport, roads and railways”
The plan's guiding transport principle is that economic policy instruments should make more environmentally friendly alternatives cheaper and environmentally harmful ones more expensive, and that freight transport should be shifted from road to rail and shipping.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan's guiding transport principle is that economic policy instruments should make more environmentally friendly alternatives cheaper and environmentally harmful ones more expensive, and that freight transport should be shifted from road to rail and shipping. A review that reduces pilotage and fairway charges so that shipping can compete with truck transport points in the same direction. The plan is at the same time clear that shipping shall bear its emissions costs, which qualifies the support.
Original (Swedish)
Planens bärande transportprincip är att de ekonomiska styrmedlen ska göra miljövänligare alternativ billigare och de miljöskadliga dyrare, och att godstransporter ska flyttas från väg till järnväg och sjöfart. En översyn som minskar lots- och farledsavgifter för att sjöfarten ska kunna konkurrera med lastbil pekar i samma riktning. Planen är samtidigt tydlig med att sjöfarten ska bära sina utsläppskostnader, vilket kvalificerar stödet.
- cheaper environmentally friendly alternativesdecisive»De ekonomiska styrmedlen bör vara en kombination av åtgärder som gör mer miljövänliga alternativ billigare och de miljöskadliga dyrare att använda.« (party programme ↗)“Economic policy instruments should be a combination of measures that make more environmentally friendly alternatives cheaper and environmentally harmful ones more expensive to use.”
- goods from road to shipping»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 railway, shipping and combined terminals so that goods transport on road can decrease.”
- energy-efficient goods transport»Godstransporter ska så långt som möjligt utföras med miljöanpassade och energieffektiva transportmedel.« (party programme ↗)“Goods transport shall as far as possible be carried out with environmentally adapted and energy-efficient transport means.”
- shipping bears emissions cost»höja priset på utsläppsrätter i EU, inkludera utsläpp från flyg och sjöfart i systemet och införa klimattullar på varor från länder utanför EU.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“raise the price of emission allowances in the EU, include emissions from aviation and shipping in the system and introduce climate tariffs on goods from countries outside the EU.”
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.
The manifesto states that more must be done for shipping to transition with strengthened competitiveness and that transport emissions should be eliminated.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The manifesto states that more must be done for shipping to transition with strengthened competitiveness and that transport emissions should be eliminated. A review that reduces pilot fees and fairway fees and gives shipping more equal conditions compared to road transport serves both goals. The party programme's demand for strengthened competitiveness for Swedish companies points in the same direction.
Original (Swedish)
Manifestet slår fast att mer behöver göras för att sjöfarten ska ställa om med stärkt konkurrenskraft och att transporternas utsläpp ska bort. En översyn som sänker lots- och farledsavgifter och ger sjöfarten mer likvärdiga villkor gentemot vägtransporter tjänar båda målen. Partiprogrammets krav på stärkt konkurrenskraft för svenska företag pekar åt samma håll.
- 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 must be done for aviation, shipping and agriculture to be able to transition to renewable fuels with strengthened competitiveness.”
- reduced transport emissions»Transporternas utsläpp ska bort och ny utsläppsfri infrastruktur ska komma på plats.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Transport emissions should be eliminated and new emission-free infrastructure should be put in place.”
- strengthened business competitiveness»Vår konkurrenskraft som företagarnation måste därför förstärkas så att det även fortsättningsvis kan skapas och utvecklas företag, i större och mindre skala, i Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“Our competitiveness as an entrepreneur nation must therefore be strengthened so that companies can continue to be created and developed, in larger and smaller scale, in Sweden.”
- mode shift of transports»Det ska dessutom vara smidigt att välja bort bilen till förmån för tåg, buss, båt och cykel.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“It should also be easy to choose not to drive a car in favour of trains, buses, boats and bicycles.”
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.
The plan conversely wants more infrastructure projects to be fee-financed and each form of transport to bear its own costs; the plan's response to unequal treatment against road traffic is according to the plan road fees, not reduced fairway and pilotage charges.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan conversely wants more infrastructure projects to be fee-financed and each form of transport to bear its own costs; the plan's response to unequal treatment against road traffic is according to the plan road fees, not reduced fairway and pilotage charges. That shipping is important and relieves road and rail is acknowledged in the plan, but that is not sufficient support for lower fees.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill tvärtom att fler infrastrukturprojekt avgiftsfinansieras och att varje transportslag bär sina egna kostnader; svaret på ojämlika villkor mot vägtrafiken är enligt planen vägavgifter, inte sänkta farleds- och lotsavgifter. Att sjöfarten är viktig och avlastar väg och järnväg erkänns i planen, men det räcker inte till stöd för sänkta avgifter.
- fee-financed infrastructuredecisive»För att höja investeringstakten ska fler nya projekt kunna avgiftsfinansieras.« (party programme ↗)“To increase the investment rate, more new projects shall be able to be fee-financed.”
- forms of transport bear their own 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 forms of transport must bear their”
- road fees should be tested»Vägavgifter på motorvägssträckor där det finns särskilt goda kollektivtrafikalternativ« (party programme ↗)“Road fees on motorway stretches where there are particularly good public transport alternatives”
- role of shipping in infrastructure»Goda möjligheter till sjötransporter är ett viktigt inslag i infrastrukturen.« (party programme ↗)“Good opportunities for sea transport are an important part of the infrastructure.”
The plan wants more goods to be transported by environmentally friendly means of transport, that instruments favor the most socially and environmentally efficient systems, and that maritime nation Sweden has long-term and competitive conditions.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants more goods to be transported by environmentally friendly means of transport, that instruments favor the most socially and environmentally efficient systems, and that maritime nation Sweden has long-term and competitive conditions. A review of pilotage and fairway charges that distort competition against road transport lies along those lines. However, the plan wants each mode of transport to bear its own costs, which pulls in the other direction.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att mer av godset flyttas till miljövänliga transportslag, att styrmedel gynnar de samhällsekonomiskt och miljömässigt mest effektiva systemen och att sjöfartsnationen Sverige har långsiktiga och konkurrenskraftiga villkor. En översyn av lots- och farledsavgifter som snedvrider konkurrensen mot vägtrafiken ligger i den linjen. Planen vill dock att varje transportslag bär sina egna kostnader, vilket drar åt andra hållet.
- goods to maritime transportdecisive»Det bör dock eftersträvas att mer av godstransporterna i första hand sker med miljövänliga« (party programme ↗)“It should however be pursued that more cargo transport initially be conducted by environmentally friendly”
- competitive conditions for maritime transport»vara stark genom långsiktiga och konkurrenskraftiga« (party programme ↗)“be strong through long-term and competitive”
- instruments for efficient systems»ska utformas så att de samhällsekonomiskt och miljömässigt mest effektiva kommunikationssystemen stimuleras.« (party programme ↗)“shall be designed so that the most socially and environmentally efficient transportation systems are stimulated.”
- modes of transport bear their own costs»Målet ska vara att respektive transportslag bär sina egna samhällsekonomiska« (party programme ↗)“The goal shall be that each mode of transport bears its own societal economic”
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.
The plan wants to lower companies' costs and transportation costs and shorten government agencies' processing times, and it points out shipping as important for industry.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to lower companies' costs and transportation costs and shorten government agencies' processing times, and it points out shipping as important for industry. A review aimed at reducing pilot and fairway fees is in line with these commitments on lower costs and competitiveness. The fees are not explicitly mentioned in the plan, but the direction is clear.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill sänka företagens kostnader och transportkostnaderna samt korta myndigheternas handläggningstider, och den pekar ut sjöfarten som viktig för industrin. En översyn i syfte att minska lots- och farledsavgifterna ligger i linje med dessa åtaganden om lägre kostnader och konkurrenskraft. Avgifterna nämns inte uttryckligen i planen, men riktningen är entydig.
- lower costs for companiesdecisive»Ta bort en tredjedel av företagens administrationskostnader och en tredjedel av regelkrånglet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Remove a third of companies' administrative costs and a third of red tape”
- shipping for industry's needs»Förnya flottan av isbrytare för att underlätta för industrin i norra Sverige« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Renew the fleet of icebreakers to facilitate industry in northern Sweden”
- more efficient agencies»Korta myndigheternas handläggningstider genom en bortre tidsgräns« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Shorten government agencies' processing times by setting a deadline”
- lower transportation costs»Sänka priset på bensin och diesel så att du klarar din vardagsekonomi« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Lower the price of petrol and diesel so you can manage your everyday economy”
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.
The plan wants to strengthen Swedish shipping and keep taxes and fees at a level that does not hinder Swedish companies in competition.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wants to strengthen Swedish shipping and keep taxes and fees at a level that does not hinder Swedish companies in competition. Pilotage and fairway fees that only shipping bears skew competition against road transport, and a review aimed at reducing them follows the plan's commitment to shipping conditions and to relieving the road and rail network.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill stärka svensk sjöfart och hålla skatter och avgifter på en nivå som inte hämmar svenska företag i konkurrensen. Lots- och farledsavgifter som bara sjöfarten bär snedvrider konkurrensen mot vägtransporter, och en översyn i syfte att minska dem följer planens åtagande om sjöfartens villkor och om att avlasta väg- och järnvägsnätet.
- strengthened Swedish shippingdecisive»Stärka svensk sjöfart« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen Swedish shipping”
- fees that do not hinder companies»Ha skatter på en nivå som inte hämmar svenska företag i den internationella konkurrensen« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Have taxes at a level that do not hinder Swedish companies in international competition”
- shipping's role in trade»Hamnar och sjöfarten är en viktig del i Sveriges import och export.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Ports and shipping are an important part of Sweden's imports and exports.”
- relief of the road network»Rusta upp väg- och järnvägsnätet i hela landet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Upgrade the road and rail network throughout the country”
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
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2023/24:TU17)
- Committee report full text (HB01TU17)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2023/24:1301 — Reformering av Gotlandstillägget av Hanna Westerén (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1398 — Stärkt infrastruktur i Blekinge för väg, hamnar och flyg av Camilla Brunsberg (M)
- Motion 2023/24:1519 — En grön klimathandlingsplan för Sverige av Elin Söderberg m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:174 — Kunskaps- och säkerhetskrav för framförandet av vissa fritidsbåtar av Markus Wiechel (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:1784 — Fritidsbåtar av Rickard Nordin (C)
- Motion 2023/24:1873 — För havets och människans framtid av Emma Nohrén m.fl. (MP)
- Motion 2023/24:1951 — Omledning av kommersiell båttrafik från känsliga områden i Östersjön av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:1965 — Gotlandstrafiken av Hanna Westerén och Laila Naraghi (båda S)
- Motion 2023/24:198 — Ett tydligare statligt ansvar för de viktigaste hamnarna av Magnus Jacobsson (KD)
- Motion 2023/24:1983 — Obligatoriskt båtregister för fritidsbåtar av Magnus Manhammar (S)
- Motion 2023/24:2206 — En stärkt svensk sjöfartsnäring av Mats Green (M)
- Motion 2023/24:2453 — Ledarskap för klimat och grön omställning av Rickard Nordin m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2465 — Hållbara och tillgängliga transporter för hela landet av Ulrika Heie m.fl. (C)
- Motion 2023/24:2536 — Satsning på Stockholms skärgård av Markus Wiechel m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:2625 — Utgiftsområde 22 Kommunikationer av Gunilla Svantorp m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2023/24:401 — En konkurrenskraftig svensk sjöfart av Jimmy Ståhl m.fl. (SD)
- Motion 2023/24:646 — En hållbar sjöfart för Sverige av Linda W Snecker m.fl. (V)
Source: The Swedish Parliament