Benefits of slow steaming in realistic sailing conditions along different sailing routes

Abstract

Slow steaming, as one of the operational measures for curbing CO2 emissions in the maritime transport industry, has already begun to be implemented, which is evident from ship operating profiles. While sailing, the ship encounters varying sea states which significantly affect ship fuel consumption and CO2 emissions and consequently have an impact on the benefits that come from slow steaming. In this study, the benefits of slow steaming in realistic sailing conditions using the example of one Post Panamax Containership and on the four most common containership trading routes are investigated. The results demonstrate that the benefits of slow steaming significantly differ depending on the sailing route as well as on the location along the sailing route and on the month, highlighting the importance of accurate assessment of sea states along the sailing route.