Are foreign drivers robbing Norway? Debts amount to millions of kroner
Foreign vehicles without a payment agreement are slipping through the payment system on Norwegian ferries. The Norwegian Public Roads Administration (Statens vegvesen) reports that losses on domestic ferries due to this issue amount to NOK 40 million. The matter has reached the Minister of Transport, Jon-Ivar Nygård.
Politicians appeal to the minister.
zdjęcie poglądowe, fot. Pxhere
For most drivers, ferry payment is automatic. The system uses cameras, license plate recognition, and solutions such as AutoPASS or FerryPay, so Norwegian drivers and registered tourists usually pay without any extra steps. The problem starts later.
This concerns foreign vehicles without a payment agreement. In such cases, the fee is supposed to be collected after the crossing, but access to reliable data about vehicle owners from some countries is limited. This makes invoicing difficult.
This concerns foreign vehicles without a payment agreement. In such cases, the fee is supposed to be collected after the crossing, but access to reliable data about vehicle owners from some countries is limited. This makes invoicing difficult.
Foreign drivers avoid ferry fees. NOK 40 million at stake
Motorhomes, motorcycles, and passenger cars line up at the quay in Bodø. Many passengers are foreign tourists heading to popular destinations in Nordland. For them, the ferry is part of their journey through Norway. However, not all have set up payment in advance.
Marcin from Poland uses an app. He says installation and check-in were easy for him, but for many tourists, it would be simpler to pay directly on board the ferry. Yann from France paid online in advance. The trip to the Lofoten Islands cost him about NOK 550.
Statens vegvesen reports that less than 1 percent of revenue on domestic ferry routes is lost due to foreign vehicles. In practice, this means NOK 40 million. According to department director Dag Hole, over 99 percent of passengers pay for their crossing. The agency says it is working to close the loopholes in the system.
The problem is drivers without devices and payment agreements. Statens vegvesen points out that some of them avoid fees, and it can be difficult to identify the vehicle owner later. Ferry operators can see which cars do not have an active agreement. If the crew has time during the crossing, they can approach such a vehicle and collect the fee using a payment terminal.
Marcin from Poland uses an app. He says installation and check-in were easy for him, but for many tourists, it would be simpler to pay directly on board the ferry. Yann from France paid online in advance. The trip to the Lofoten Islands cost him about NOK 550.
Statens vegvesen reports that less than 1 percent of revenue on domestic ferry routes is lost due to foreign vehicles. In practice, this means NOK 40 million. According to department director Dag Hole, over 99 percent of passengers pay for their crossing. The agency says it is working to close the loopholes in the system.
The problem is drivers without devices and payment agreements. Statens vegvesen points out that some of them avoid fees, and it can be difficult to identify the vehicle owner later. Ferry operators can see which cars do not have an active agreement. If the crew has time during the crossing, they can approach such a vehicle and collect the fee using a payment terminal.
Officials admit that the system was created for road tolls, not ferry payments.Public domain
Cameras have replaced cashiers on ferries. Now the system has an expensive loophole
Centre Party (Sp) MP Bent-Joacim Bentzen is demanding a swift government response. In his view, foreign tourists should pay if the ferry is not free. He points out that Norwegian residents and businesses should not bear the costs. He cites Nordland as an example.
The Nordland County Council (Nordland fylkeskommune) uses manual payment as a supplement to the AutoPASS system. Foreign vehicles without an agreement are flagged before boarding the ferry. A deckhand or staff member on land requests payment. The transaction is made via SoftPay, a card solution operating on the collector's phone.
Christian Annely from Nordland fylkeskommune says the solution works well. According to him, SoftPay has reduced the number of transactions sent for later invoicing, both for foreign and Norwegian customers. In the last 30 days, less than 5 percent of all transactions were invoiced after the crossing. Nevertheless, on three paid routes, NOK 2.6 million is still outstanding.
Nygård does not want to return to traditional cashiers. The Minister of Transport believes the future belongs to automatic payment systems, including on ferries. The government and Statens vegvesen are currently analyzing the solution used for collecting road tolls from foreign drivers. They are checking whether the same system can be used for ferry payments.
The Nordland County Council (Nordland fylkeskommune) uses manual payment as a supplement to the AutoPASS system. Foreign vehicles without an agreement are flagged before boarding the ferry. A deckhand or staff member on land requests payment. The transaction is made via SoftPay, a card solution operating on the collector's phone.
Christian Annely from Nordland fylkeskommune says the solution works well. According to him, SoftPay has reduced the number of transactions sent for later invoicing, both for foreign and Norwegian customers. In the last 30 days, less than 5 percent of all transactions were invoiced after the crossing. Nevertheless, on three paid routes, NOK 2.6 million is still outstanding.
Nygård does not want to return to traditional cashiers. The Minister of Transport believes the future belongs to automatic payment systems, including on ferries. The government and Statens vegvesen are currently analyzing the solution used for collecting road tolls from foreign drivers. They are checking whether the same system can be used for ferry payments.
Statens vegvesen notes that the EETS system was designed for road tolls, not directly for ferries. Bentzen does not accept this as a reason for delay. In his opinion, Nygård should resolve the issue before the holiday season.
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