Copyright © Seatrade Communications Limited, 2004.

A New Year’s resolution: banish archaic ‘grt’
5/1/2004

Ten years after the term ‘gross registered tonnage’ was abandoned by the international shipping community, usage of the abbreviation ‘grt’ persists -- often in cruise line press materials, guidebooks and media reports.
The accurate and internationally accepted standard, which came into effect a decade ago on July 18, 1994, is ‘gross tonnage’ or ‘gt.’ This figure reflects a ship’s internal volume in hundreds of cubic feet of enclosed space. (One hundred cubic feet = one gross ton.) Today, gross tonnage is calculated by computer using data from line and general arrangement plans.

Tonnage is an important figure. It’s required for registry in most countries and the basis on which various port and canal dues are calculated. Cruise lines also use it to illustrate a ship’s spaciousness (passenger space ratio is expressed as a percentage based on passenger count to tonnage). The international gt convention replaced a patchwork of national tonnage regulations -- more than a dozen major methods previously existed worldwide. Adopting a universal measurement eliminated inconsistencies and means that a ship retains the same gt throughout its lifetime, irrespective of flag. (Unless there is a major structural alteration.)

In fact I can only recall seeing it in cruise line advertising which has unfortunately been picked up by the public and media.

Can anyone come up with a Certificate of Registry or Tonnage Certificate with GRT on it?

One of the things that often made comparisons of GRT an exercise in futility was the "excluded space" which varied from one flag of registry to another. I believe that US regulations even allowed the optional inclusion or exclusion of the entire superstructure leading to such anomallies as the quoted tonnage of the SS United States being reduced from approx. 53,000 grt to approx 39,000 grt overnight without a single physical modification being made.

[ 01-08-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

It used to be called "exemptions" and they consisted of spaces like the Wheelhouse, Crew Galley and washrooms which were above the tonnage deck - usually the Maindeck. There were no exemptions below that deck. The Chartroom however was a "Deduction' from GT to Net Tonnage.

I see they are now called "Exclusions' and are only spaces into the hull open to the sea such as thruster tubes or inlets if they are more than a cubic metre in size. Apparently all enclosed spaces are now included in the Gross.

As for the BIG U was not that tonnage change made after she was gutted out when the asbestos was removed in Turkey?

quote:

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Originally posted by gohaze:

As for the BIG U was not that tonnage change made after she was gutted out when the asbestos was removed in Turkey?

....peter

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No. The big reduction in the GRT figure for Big U came before she was laid up in 1969. I first saw the reduced figure in the early-mid 70's in Lloyd's Register, long before one Mr. Hadley came into the picture and started the rape and other abuse of this once fine ship. Elsewhere, Kludas Vol 5 (English edition 1977) lists TWO big reductions: the first in 1962 to 44,893 and the 2nd in 1967 to 38,216.

I am not sure what you are asking with your GRT question.

Brian

[ 01-09-2004: Message edited by: Brian_O ]

I have never seen GRT used officially and thought you may have.

One thing I found out now I don't think I ever realised before but NRT stands for Net OR Registered Tonnage but you cannot do that with the Gross Tonnage.

quote:

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Originally posted by gohaze:
Brian...I asked because in one para you used GT and in the next GRT.

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Ok. In the first paragraph I was asking was asking about the "new" international standard for measurement, so I used GT.

In the second paragraph I was moaning about the inconsistent way tonnages have been reported and used GRT because that is the way most sources have quoted it historically.

I sure hope it is the measurement that has been standardised and not just the nomenclature.

Copyright © Seatrade Communications Limited, 2004.

Costa to benefit from new Italian tonnage tax
15/1/2004

Costa Crociere is to save millions of Euros in taxes under a new tonnage system introduced by the Italian government this month. Until the 2003 fiscal year, Italian flagged ships registered under the so called 'international register' paid 7.4% tax on income.
As of January 2004, owners who opt for the new regime will pay only a 6.6% tax rate on a total sum achieved by multiplying the number of operational days for each ship by a fee related to net tonnage and age.

Costa has its entire fleet under Italian flag and it is expected to benefit greatly. In 2002 fiscal year Costa paid more than €43m in taxes. The savings achieved under the new regime could influence Costa’s decision on a possible new order with Fincantieri for a third ship in the Costa Fortuna class. As previously reported by Seatrade Insider, according to trade union sources in Genoa, Costa and Fincantieri already have a 'handshake' deal.