Response to interpellation 2023/24:569 on the Swedish Maritime Administration's organization
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the organization and financing of the Swedish Maritime Administration. KD argues that the Swedish Maritime Administration's finances are better today thanks to financial supplements and investments in a fossil-free fleet 1. KD emphasizes that proposals from Statskontoret are being prepared in the Government Offices and that there are budget funds for icebreakers 2 3. KD underlines the importance of Swedish-Finnish cooperation and that maritime and air transport are now more clearly included in infrastructure planning 3. KD considers the Swedish Sea Rescue Society to be a very important and fundamental part of Swedish sea rescue 4. S argues that the Swedish Maritime Administration's business model does not work because it is difficult to combine profit requirements with state responsibility 5 6. S considers the underfunding to be acute and that deficiencies in icebreaking affect the business sector in northern Sweden 5 7.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Mattias Ottosson has asked me if I will take any measures in light of the Swedish National Audit Office's report on the Swedish Maritime Administration's operational and financing model.
The Swedish Maritime Administration has for a longer period struggled with a weak economy, which was the background to the announcement from the Riksdag that was the origin of the investigation that Mattias Ottosson refers to.
In the Swedish National Audit Office's review of the Swedish Maritime Administration's operations and financing model, a number of measures are proposed - partly measures to meet the Swedish Maritime Administration's challenges specifically and partly more general measures concerning challenges shared by all government agencies. The proposals are currently being prepared within the Government Offices, and I intend to return to this regarding when and how the government intends to move the proposals forward.
At the same time, I can state that the Swedish Maritime Administration's finances are better today than at the time the announcement was submitted a number of years ago. The Swedish Maritime Administration has received financial supplements of several hundred million kronor in recent years. In addition, the finances are strengthened partly to enable a renewal of the icebreaker fleet and partly to begin the transition to a fossil-free boat and ship fleet. These are investments that, in the long run, will affect the Swedish Maritime Administration's results positively as a result of reduced costs.
Mattias Ottosson (S)
Madam Speaker! The business enterprise is somewhat of an oddity in Swedish administration, at least right now. Historically, there have been several, but we have mostly chosen to go the route of state agencies or to corporatize the activity. I think that is wise.
Now, the National Audit Office has looked at this. It has been over a year since the report was released. The National Audit Office is quite clear in its view that the Swedish Maritime Administration should have fee-based funding even moving forward, but that the profit requirement should be removed and an indexation for the state support, or what the state provides, should be introduced. The pension debt should be managed and the result equalization fund should be removed.
It becomes a bit tricky to have an enterprise that is intended to be profit-making but at the same time carry out certain activities that are to be financed through grants. It is naturally the case that the activity is very broad. One does very many different things.
When it comes to matters related to fairways, I understand that it is wise to charge a fairway fee from those who use them. That is, of course, correct. It is the same for those who use the pilotage service – it is something for which one can charge a fee.
Then there are things that the state needs to take greater responsibility for, for example, air and sea rescue. It is clear that commercial traffic is covered, but this is about pleasure boats and private aircraft and such that happen to be involved in accidents where the state takes responsibility.
It can also be about the icebreaking. We have discussed previously whether it should be state-funded or fee-funded. Historically, the state has provided for it. The state used conscripts; it was indeed part of the total defense. One works with nautical charts, and that is also something for which it is natural to charge fees. Likewise with Seaman's Service and such things.
However, this makes it a hot issue, because the report also clearly states that the Swedish Maritime Administration is underfunded. There is a shortage of approximately 250 million in its operations for what is the state's or our collective responsibility. It then becomes difficult if one is simultaneously to be profit-driven and, so to speak, make the results balance, for who should stand for what? Is it the shipping industry or the state that should take the responsibility when 250 million is missing?
The Minister is clear that the issue is being prepared at the department and that they will return to the Riksdag with various proposals.
I am a bit more stressed. Why am I? It has been a year, and there are deficiencies in the operations. Right now, as we stand here, the icebreaking in the Bay of Bothnia is ongoing. We have some spring feelings here today, but up there, it will be ice and icebreaking for many more weeks. Right now, the icebreaking to Kalix has been cancelled. It is serious. That is why I feel that it is urgent.
At the same time, there is no rescue helicopter in Visby, Gotland. It is located in Kiruna. It is probably a wise prioritization, but there should also be a rescue helicopter on Gotland to be able to work with the Baltic Sea. Should a maritime accident or an aviation accident occur out there, it would take 50 minutes to get there, because it is crews and helicopters in Norrtälje or Kristianstad that would have to intervene.
Right now, when the Minister and the undersigned are in the chamber, there are deficiencies. The icebreaking is not functioning in the Bay of Bothnia. The Sea Rescue does not have full readiness around our coasts. Therefore, it is so important here.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Yes, it is an important and pressing issue. I would like to thank the member for the commitment.
It is exactly so, and it was the origin of why Statskontoret received this assignment, that Sjöfartsverket has struggled with its finances for a longer period. Currently, the economy is better than when the announcement was directed by the Riksdag. Sjöfartsverket has received economic supplements of several hundred million kronor in recent years. But it is not an answer to say that we are not doing anything further, but just as I said, these proposals are being prepared in the Government Offices.
In the report, the government received a number of proposals, as previously mentioned. Several of them concerned the business entity form in general, for example, that the government should phase it out in its entirety. It is a very extensive proposal that concerns several agencies beyond the Swedish Maritime Administration, and it contributes to the complexity in the preparation of the proposals.
When it comes to more specific proposals addressed to Sjöfartsverket regarding Sjöfartsverket's operations, they are still being prepared in the Government Offices. Statskontoret was clearly in parts stating that it did not have the conditions to go into depth on all the proposals it submitted. Therefore, further investigation work may be necessary to move forward in the matter.
It is important to see what can be done to strengthen the Swedish Maritime Administration's organization. The icebreakers, which I mentioned in the response and which the member takes up, are a central part in maintaining lines and traffic possibilities, not least for the needs of the business sector but also from a robustness and preparedness perspective.
The Swedish icebreaker fleet is aging and has been heavily affected by the conditions that have prevailed this winter. This has underscored the need to reinforce and update the fleet. What the member mentions, that the situation right now is so strained that one cannot even break ice to Kalix, of course affects the business sector. Also from a preparedness perspective - when it comes to air and sea rescue - there is of course great reason for me to prepare these proposals, which we do in the Government Offices.
This is also an important part of the work to strengthen the competitiveness of shipping, which, Madam Speaker, is the government's ambition expressed in broader terms. The Swedish Maritime Administration and the services and tasks that lie with the Swedish Maritime Administration will, of course, be important and decisive for us to succeed also with these parts, where I perceive that there is a broad consensus in the Riksdag.
Mattias Ottosson (S)
Madam Speaker! We have actually ended up in a discussion about the consequences of the Swedish Maritime Administration's organization and the underfunding that prevails.
To continue the discussion on icebreaking that we have begun, the fact is that today we have a number of icebreakers that are quite aged. Ale, which we have in Vänern and which is the smallest icebreaker, has turned 50 years old. If a ship lives for 40 years, that is a long time, and this has now, therefore, been operational for 50 years under tough working conditions. The entire icebreaker fleet actually needs to be upgraded. Here, Sjöfartsverket has taken some initiatives. A used icebreaker is now being test-run for a possible purchase. Additionally, external icebreakers have been hired in.
We are also currently in the process of procuring icebreakers, which has taken some time. There are two icebreakers being procured at the moment. However, the procurement has been interrupted, and a small adjustment will be made. I also believe it is important that the third icebreaker, which has also been discussed in this context, is included.
There have been problems. There have been tough weather conditions, which have affected this. It has blown in the wrong direction, as we say, so that it is easier on the Finnish side. I think it is also important to say that Sweden and Finland usually cooperate when it comes to icebreaking in the Bothnian Bay. The problem now, however, is that our icebreakers are not quite going at full speed.
To Kalix, we have completely stopped. I personally had contact with the municipal councilor in Kalix, who is naturally very concerned about the business sector there. Billerud's mill in Karlsborg, for example, is receiving no deliveries via the sea route right now. It is clear that the municipal councilor feels an anxiety for his municipality when it comes to growth, jobs, and such things. There are also other projects concerning wind power, where one is also dependent on shipping, and they wonder if this is a signal that they will not be able to invest.
I believe that this is important and therefore am still a bit concerned when the Minister says that the issue is being prepared and is complicated and that he will eventually come with some conclusion. It has been just over a year now, and I believe it is important that one can send signals to northern Sweden that we are making these types of investments, reorganizing and streamlining so that they can receive the services they need.
I therefore want to ask the Minister again: Can the Minister say anything about when some announcements will reach those who are so significantly affected by this in northern Sweden?
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! Regarding the question in the interpellation concerning measures in light of the Swedish National Audit Office's report, I have answered that this is being prepared in the Government Offices, and I therefore have no new information to provide in this interpellation debate.
Regarding the broader issue of icebreakers that Mattias Ottosson raises, I see, given that when it comes to the icebreaker fleet there is actually no used market to speak of, that it is very positive that Sjöfartsverket has managed to find a used icebreaker that is now being tested. We shall have to see if it can become a more long-term solution regarding just that part. It does not replace the other, larger icebreakers; there is simply a great need for updating with new icebreakers. But it could be a complement, as Sjöfartsverket describes it.
I want to remind that in the national plan for the current planning period, there are budget funds specifically for icebreakers.
Regarding the procurement where a re-tender is now being conducted, it is of course important that the Swedish Maritime Administration finds a viable path and that there are bidders who live up to the high requirements set for icebreakers in light of the specific conditions in this part of the world and also from a security policy perspective. There, I also want to emphasize the importance of the Swedish-Finnish cooperation regarding icebreaking in the Bothnian Bay.
There are, of course, reasons to be concerned. I also expressed that this affects the business sector and robustness.
This is also an important part of the work on the revision of the national plan that we are in the middle of. The direction document has been presented to the government. In our assignment, Trafikverket has included maritime and air transport in a clearer way than before. The emphasis has, for natural reasons, been on rail and road, but it is also important to include maritime and air transport in the planning so that we have a robust and reliable transport system regardless of the mode of transport.
This work is also ongoing, Madam Speaker, and there is good reason to maintain a high pace. The Government will therefore return later this autumn with the bill where it proposes frameworks for infrastructure planning in connection with the plan revision.
Mattias Ottosson (S)
Madam Speaker! We can move on to sea and air rescue, which is naturally a clear state responsibility. The Swedish Maritime Administration is responsible for it; one has the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, and one has its rescue helicopters. Then I think it is important to say that the Swedish Sea Rescue Society is naturally a major actor at sea, with the great heroes who do this work entirely voluntarily around the clock. At hand is naturally municipal rescue services, and the Coast Guard is also helpful here.
The organizational forms do, however, mean that it also becomes difficult with the financing and the understaffing. It is clear that we have a responsibility for the pleasure boats we have that can end up in tricky situations, especially during the summer.
It is also about aviation utilizing this service. Sjöfartsverket receives a grant from Luftfartsverket regarding this and a state grant regarding the rest of the operations. When the E6 was raging, for example, Sjöfartsverket's rescue helicopter was there to search and see if there were people in the area.
When this does not add up, it will of course be the merchant shipping that pays via fees. That becomes a bit complicated, and that is why this with business-driving works does not really work. I can understand that Swedish shipowners who pay fairway fees and various fees for these services feel a bit concerned when they see that people are out working in the mountain world or in other places without any connection to their operations. I believe they are cautious about saying this. This is about saving lives, and they naturally do not want to criticize that.
But this shows that the Swedish organization is not really functioning. I believe it is important that the government acts as soon as possible so that we get order and clarity in this.
Statsrådet Andreas Carlson (KD)
Madam Speaker! I would first like to hook on and agree with Mattias Ottsson's underlining of the importance of the Swedish Sea Rescue Society. It is a very important part - completely fundamental and decisive - of Swedish sea rescue, which is primarily based on civilian and voluntary commitment. It is a very proud and important part of civil society, which I have visited once and had meetings with. I place great value on the Swedish Sea Rescue Society and think it is positive that they are highlighted in this debate, Madam Speaker.
I also want to thank Mattias Ottosson for the initiated questions and a genuine commitment to Swedish shipping, which I share. I will have to return with further answers to the questions that the member poses. The answer I have today is that these questions are being addressed in the Government Offices.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.