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PENSIONS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023
Retirement Benefits [Abstract]  
Pensions
25.PENSIONS
Defined contribution scheme

We operate a defined contribution scheme. The pension cost for the period represents contributions payable by us to the scheme. The charges to net income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021 was $1.6 million, $1.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively.
Defined benefit schemes

We have two defined benefit pension plans both of which are closed to new entrants but still cover certain of our employees. Benefits are based on the employees' years of service and compensation. Net periodic pension plan costs are determined using the Projected Unit Credit Cost method. Our plans are funded by us in conformity with the funding requirements of the applicable government regulations. Plan assets consist of both fixed income and equity funds managed by professional fund managers. We use December 31 as the measurement date for our pension plans.

The components of net periodic benefit costs are as follows:
Year ended December 31,
(in thousands of $)202320222021
Service cost(33)(75)(120)
Interest cost(1,622)(1,087)(879)
Expected return on plan assets427 254 214 
Recognized actuarial loss(307)(774)(1,131)
Net periodic benefit cost(1,535)(1,682)(1,916)

The components of net periodic benefit costs are recognized in the consolidated statement of operations within "administrative expenses" and "vessel operating expenses" amounting to $0.2 million, (2022: $0.1 million) and $1.4 million (2022: $1.6 million), respectively.

The estimated net loss for the defined benefit pension plans that was amortized from accumulated other comprehensive income into net periodic pension benefit cost during the year ended December 31, 2023 is $0.3 million (2022: $0.8 million).

The change in projected benefit obligation and plan assets and reconciliation of funded status for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
(in thousands of $)20232022
Reconciliation of benefit obligation: 
Benefit obligation at January 134,078 47,215 
Service cost33 75 
Interest cost1,622 1,087 
Actuarial loss/(gain) (1)
246 (10,106)
Foreign currency exchange rate changes383 (1,227)
Benefit payments(2,929)(2,966)
Projected benefit obligation at December 31
33,433 34,078 
(1) Actuarial gain is sensitive to changes in key actuarial assumptions specifically discount rates, mortality rates and assumed future salary increases.
The accumulated benefit obligation at December 31, 2023 and 2022 was $33.2 million and $33.9 million, respectively.

(in thousands of $)20232022
Reconciliation of fair value of plan assets: 
Fair value of plan assets at January 19,809 15,858 
Actual return on plan assets433 (4,392)
Employer contributions2,175 2,900 
Foreign currency exchange rate changes474 (1,591)
Benefit payments(2,929)(2,966)
Fair value of plan assets at December 319,962 9,809 

The amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, is $4.5 million and $4.4 million, respectively.

The actuarial loss recognized in other comprehensive income/(loss) is net of tax of $0.4 million, $0.3 million, and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Employer contributions and benefits paid under the pension plans include $2.2 million and $2.9 million paid from employer assets for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Our defined benefit pension plan is comprised of two schemes as follows:
 December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
 
(in thousands of $)
UK SchemeMarine SchemeTotalUK SchemeMarine SchemeTotal
Fair value of benefit obligation(7,597)(25,836)(33,433)(7,073)(27,005)(34,078)
Fair value of plan assets9,331 631 9,962 8,801 1,008 9,809 
Funded (unfunded) status at end of year1,734 (25,205)(23,471)1,728 (25,997)(24,269)

The fair value of our plan assets, by category, as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are as follows:
(in thousands of $)20232022
Equity securities9,331 8,801 
Cash631 1,008 
 9,962 9,809 

The asset allocation for our Marine scheme at December 31, 2023 and 2022, by asset category are as follows:
Marine scheme2023 (%)2022 (%)
Cash100 100 
Total100 100 

The asset allocation for our UK scheme at December 31, 2023 and 2022, by asset category are as follows:
UK scheme2023 (%)2022 (%)
Equity99 98 
Cash
1 2 
Total100 100 

Our investment strategy is to balance risk and reward through the selection of professional investment managers and investing in pooled funds.
We are expected to make the following contributions to the schemes during the year ended December 31, 2023, as follows:
(in thousands of $)UK schemeMarine scheme
Employer contributions— 2,175 

We are expected to make the following pension disbursements as follows:
Year ending December 31,
UK schemeMarine scheme
(in thousands of $)
2024410 2,600 
2025510 2,500 
2026410 2,400 
2027420 2,300 
2028420 2,200 
2029 - 20332,400 9,000 

The weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation for our defined benefit pension plans for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
 20232022
Discount rate4.63 %4.94 %
Rate of compensation increase2.47 %2.61 %

The weighted average assumptions used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for our defined benefit pension plans for the years ended December 31 are as follows:
 20232022
Discount rate4.64 %4.93 %
Expected return on plan assets4.31 %1.81 %
Rate of compensation increase2.54 %2.49 %

The overall expected long-term rate of return on assets assumption used to determine the net periodic benefit cost for our plans for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 is based on the weighted average of various returns on assets using the asset allocation as of the beginning of 2023 and 2022. For equities and other asset classes, we have applied an equity risk premium over ten-year governmental bonds.