A usage ban means that the vessel is stopped until the deficiencies are rectified.
The usage bans were more than double last year compared to previous years: twelve bans in 2023 and ten bans in 2022.
"Despite conducting fewer inspections, we find more vessels with serious deficiencies. This type of vessel is something we have not seen in our Swedish waters before, it is clearly alarming", says the authority's director-general Jonas Bjelfvenstam in a press release.
The number of deficiencies on board has also increased significantly, and was 1,576 last year. This can involve poor fire protection or deficiencies in the working environment for the crew.
The Transport Agency believes that the vessels' deteriorated condition is due to rising freight prices, which affects shipping companies' choice of less serious flag states. The authority sees no connection between the increase in the number of usage bans and the so-called Russian shadow fleet.
