Torm introduces slower steaming

Martin Lorenz, tanker division chartering manager for Torm, said long range tankers had been slowed from 16.5 knots to 14.5 knots which has reduced fuel consumption from 55 tonnes to 40 tonnes a day. That would mean a tanker bunkering in the Middle East Gulf could make savings of $10,200 a day, according to Torm calculations.

There is growing support from sections of the shipping industry for slow steaming, not simply as a cost saving measure but also as a means of cutting ship-generated pollution.

Orient Overseas Container Line Ltd. (OOCL) last month said it was adding a vessel to the Japan/North Europe service to allow ships to travel at what it called an ?ecospeed?.

Also last month, Maersk Line said it was introducing slower sailing speeds on one of its Europe and Middle East routes to ensure a more reliable service and to “provide more

environmentally friendly transport due to the reduced emissions”. China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company (COSCO) has also said it plans to reduce the cruising speed of all its ships by 10%.

But there have also been concerns that slower ships could mean more ships, eliminating any environmental advantages.