Slow Steaming Technology

A few weeks ago, MAN Diesel & Turbo revealed their MAN EcoCam, with a unique technology used for ocean freight vessels. In essence, this engineering equipment alters the exhaust-valve timing and results in 2-5 g/kw fuel savings for the carrier. The Man EcoCam continues to facilitate a vessel for slow steaming. A lot has been said about slow steaming, and it is great to have technology companies and even freight forwarders support this popular practice.

Slow steaming is involved with changing the sailing speeds of a ship in transit so that the engine and fuel can be used less often. Overall, this practice has been very popular in the recent years in the ocean freight industry. The reasons for using this practice are numerous. Slow steaming uses less fuel and there could be less pollution, which is good for protecting the environment. Economically, slow steaming makes sense too. This transportation protocol helps sustain the vessel in the long-term and helps keep shipping expenses down. If expenses are lower, then the ocean freight shipping rates could be lower as well.

One note about slow steaming: Beyond the positive benefits, transit times might be different since the ships are moving at slower speeds. While this could seem like an issue for perishable items shipped around the globe, many shippers overall still support slow steaming proudly and welcome the benefits. We will have to wait and see how the slow steaming technology improves in the future.