In the first quarter of 2023, the average speed of container vehicles on line services decreased to 13.8 knots, which is 4% less than a year earlier, according to BIMCO. Decelerating vehicles allow carriers to regulate the supply of capacity in the market, reduce bunker fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
RightShip estimates that a 10% reduction in speed reduces fuel consumption per trip by 27% with a corresponding reduction in emissions.
Last year, amid high demand, supply chain delays and port congestion, carriers were forced to increase the speed of vehicles by 4% year-over-year.
BIMCO notes that this year the role of new environmental regulations as factors in slowing down ships has increased. Since the beginning of the year, the new IMO measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ships have come into force.