Swedish ships have been registered under flags of convenience for many years. Last year, the Swedish merchant fleet decreased by a further six ships, making 320 in all. Sweship, formerly the Swedish Shipowners' Association, estimates that the introduction of the tonnage tax will, over the next ten years, result in 300 new ships sailing under the Swedish flag and 17,000 new jobs.

The government regards the introduction of the tonnage tax has an integral part of Sweden's ambition to have the lowest level of unemployment in the E.U. by 2020.

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