Full extent of Extra-slow steaming revealed
ESS initatives absorb 554,000teu of deepsea capacity
The full extent of deepsea capacity absorbed by slow steaming initiatives has been revealed in AXS Alphaliner’s latest report.
The Paris-based analyst has revealed that the extra-slow steaming (ESS) initiatives – with ships sailing at 17 to 19 knots - implemented by carriers in May absorbed 554,000teu of capacity, keeping almost 100 ships in employment.
In May last year 46,000teu was absorbed by ESS.
“The capacity absorbed by ESS represents 4.1% of the total cellular fleet and has contributed significantly to redress the supply-demand imbalance that built up in 2009,” Alphaliner said.
“Slower sailing speeds have now become the norm on the Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes, where 78% and 53% respectively of all strings are now running in slow steaming mode.”
The additional capacity employed through ESS will reach 580,000 teu by the beginning of July, Alphaliner said.
This figure is based upon new services which are to be run in ESS and plans announced by the carriers to slow down existing service rotations.
Alphaliner predicted the figure could rise further by the end of the year as slower sailing speeds take hold across all line-haul trades.
However, certain developments may have an impact on its use.
“Recent falls in the price of fuel oil could defer some carriers’ plans to switch more services to ESS mode, but as long as fuel oil prices remain above $400/ton, the services currently in ESS is likely to stay this way,” the analyst said.
It added: “Falling fuel prices and a shortage of both ships and containers could diminish the trend towards ESS in the summer months.”
The Paris-based analyst has revealed that the extra-slow steaming (ESS) initiatives – with ships sailing at 17 to 19 knots - implemented by carriers in May absorbed 554,000teu of capacity, keeping almost 100 ships in employment.
In May last year 46,000teu was absorbed by ESS.
“The capacity absorbed by ESS represents 4.1% of the total cellular fleet and has contributed significantly to redress the supply-demand imbalance that built up in 2009,” Alphaliner said.
“Slower sailing speeds have now become the norm on the Asia-Europe and Transpacific routes, where 78% and 53% respectively of all strings are now running in slow steaming mode.”
The additional capacity employed through ESS will reach 580,000 teu by the beginning of July, Alphaliner said.
This figure is based upon new services which are to be run in ESS and plans announced by the carriers to slow down existing service rotations.
Alphaliner predicted the figure could rise further by the end of the year as slower sailing speeds take hold across all line-haul trades.
However, certain developments may have an impact on its use.
“Recent falls in the price of fuel oil could defer some carriers’ plans to switch more services to ESS mode, but as long as fuel oil prices remain above $400/ton, the services currently in ESS is likely to stay this way,” the analyst said.
It added: “Falling fuel prices and a shortage of both ships and containers could diminish the trend towards ESS in the summer months.”
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