Slow Steaming
Slow steaming
The full story
Slow steaming – the full story
Maersk’s development of slow steaming demonstrates its capacity for industry-changing innovation. When fuel prices soared and CO2 emissions hogged headlines in 2007, Maersk’s technical experts set about solving the problem.
Slowing down was the solution they came up with.
By 2009, significant fuel savings and carbon reductions resulting from sailing at 12 knots instead of 24 saw slow steaming become standard operating procedure for Maersk ships.
Today, after 22 per cent bunker fuel savings in 2010, it is integral to the benefits enjoyed by Maersk’s shipping customers.
2
Slow steaming – the full story
Two years of careful research were needed to demonstrate to the world that pulling back on the throttle made sense, because steaming at 10% of maximum load went against conventional wisdom.
Engineers feared engines would be damaged and customers wanted goods transported as fast as possible. But slow steaming has cut fuel consumption, improved reliability and lowered carbon emissions in one fell swoop.
Now our idea has become a widely accepted practice used by container vessels across the globe.
16 knots The idea
It’s no coincidence Maersk Line led the way on slow steaming. Maersk owns, operates and charters vessels, and boasts one of the largest maritime innovation divisions in the world.
In 2007 no engineering charts showing fuel consumption for container ships below a speed of 16 knots (around 29 kph) existed. 3
Slow steaming – the full story
First, the Maersk Line’s Technical Organisation began recording findings on slow steaming on certain routes in 2007 to improve punctuality and cut fuel use. It found that up to 4,000 tonnes of bunker oil could be saved during a round trip from Europe to Singapore on a large ship like Emma Maersk.
Later, Maersk Line also introduced a Bunker Leap with the aim of driving down consumption of energy
The full story
Slow steaming – the full story
Maersk’s development of slow steaming demonstrates its capacity for industry-changing innovation. When fuel prices soared and CO2 emissions hogged headlines in 2007, Maersk’s technical experts set about solving the problem.
Slowing down was the solution they came up with.
By 2009, significant fuel savings and carbon reductions resulting from sailing at 12 knots instead of 24 saw slow steaming become standard operating procedure for Maersk ships.
Today, after 22 per cent bunker fuel savings in 2010, it is integral to the benefits enjoyed by Maersk’s shipping customers.
2
Slow steaming – the full story
Two years of careful research were needed to demonstrate to the world that pulling back on the throttle made sense, because steaming at 10% of maximum load went against conventional wisdom.
Engineers feared engines would be damaged and customers wanted goods transported as fast as possible. But slow steaming has cut fuel consumption, improved reliability and lowered carbon emissions in one fell swoop.
Now our idea has become a widely accepted practice used by container vessels across the globe.
16 knots The idea
It’s no coincidence Maersk Line led the way on slow steaming. Maersk owns, operates and charters vessels, and boasts one of the largest maritime innovation divisions in the world.
In 2007 no engineering charts showing fuel consumption for container ships below a speed of 16 knots (around 29 kph) existed. 3
Slow steaming – the full story
First, the Maersk Line’s Technical Organisation began recording findings on slow steaming on certain routes in 2007 to improve punctuality and cut fuel use. It found that up to 4,000 tonnes of bunker oil could be saved during a round trip from Europe to Singapore on a large ship like Emma Maersk.
Later, Maersk Line also introduced a Bunker Leap with the aim of driving down consumption of energy