In late 2011, MAN Diesel & Turbo conducted a web survey to investigate the approach of container lines and bulk and tanker operators to slow steaming, the retrofit, derating and upgrade measures taken to maximise the return on slow steaming, and evaluation of the results of these measures.
The survey was conducted among more than 200 representatives of the global container and bulk shipping industry. Of these, 149 had implemented slow steaming. Respondents were asked to answer 25 multiple-choice questions and to attach free text comments where relevant.
New Market Conditions
Slow steaming has been adopted by the world’s shipping community since 2007 with an increasing focus. The engines in the world’s fleet were built to run constantly at full load, which is typically not the optimal operational pattern now. This constitutes challenges to the operators in order to maximise the performance and competitiveness under these new market conditions.
Slow Steamers Divided into Two Groups
The results of the survey are based on the answers and comments from the respondents who had already implemented slow steaming. These were again split into two groups:
– 1. 38 respondents who had already implemented one or more engine retrofit solutions such as slide fuel valves, turbocharger cut-out, engine derating or propeller upgrade.
– 2. 111 who had either not implemented any of the above, but had implemented other solutions such as hull cleaning.
Fuel Costs Driving Factor
The overwhelming reason for adopting slow steaming was the promise of fuel savings. The survey revealed that engine retrofit, derating and propeller upgrade measures delivered fuel savings either as expected or higher than expected. In addition, the survey documented a positive reaction to slow steaming by a large majority of the global shipping community.
Further Increasing the Financial Return
There are a number of ways of further increasing the financial return from slow steaming. These include slide fuel valves, turbocharger cut-out solutions, lubrication oil system upgrading, engine derating and propeller upgrading. These measures enable more efficient consumption of fuel and lubricating oil as well as increasing engine performance.
Better Utilisation of Existing Fleet
In addition to fuel savings, the opportunity for better utilisation of existing fleet capacity also played a significant role in the decision to adopt slow steaming.
Environmental Benefits
Lower fuel consumption also means fewer emissions – a useful side effect in a world where environmental regulations are becoming ever stricter. Those who have implemented engine upgrades rate factors such as fouling of the exhaust gas boiler, soot deposits in moving parts and correct lubrication as far more important focus areas than those who have not.
Compliance with local environmental relations is also important for shipping lines requiring access to certain countries and ports. There is a significant difference in the approach to this question by those who have already implemented engine retrofits and those who have not. Those who have implemented engine retrofits are more inclined to address environmental compliance by investing in mechanical solutions that are certain to deliver the necessary advantages with a reasonable payback time.
Download the full report on https://www.manslowsteaming.com/[manslowsteaming.com].
