GL head urges “ultra slow steaming”

The optimum speed for container ships is much lower than the current 25 or 26 knots achieved by the big vessels according to Germanischer Lloyd’s head Hermann Klein.

Dr Klein suggests that, depending on the number of vessels on a trade, the optimal speed could be as low as 10 knots and certainly he thought that between 12 and 14 knots would become the norm for container vessels, except possibly some much faster ones offering expensive “express” services.

Between 1986 and 2007 the average container ship speed rose from 17.5 to 21.6 knots. Dr Klein said that massive reductions in energy use, and thus in fuel costs, could be achieved by pulling back speed dramatically. He also said that this would have a marked effect on container ship usage as it would absorb much more capacity.

He accepted that some engines would need modifications to reduce service speed so much but he expected owners would start ordering vessels optimised for much lower speeds within a couple of years as they would have a competitive advantage over existing vessels.