Impacts of vessel speed on bunker cost in short sea shipping: A cross-examination

Brahea Centre, University of Turku, 20014 University of Turku, Finland

^* Corresponding author: tommi.inkinen@utu.fi

Abstract

Air emissions of shipping have decreased in SECA regions after 2015. Environmental impacts of regulation policies are identifiable and measurable, as a study from the port of Gothenburg recently exposed. In addition to emissions, it is important to understand how regulations and decisions, focusing on environmental sustainability, impact on the maritime business indicators such as transport costs and marginal revenues. When SECA decision was made, the oil and bunker prices were historically high. Prices were also highly volatile. Numerous studies estimated difficulties for shipping companies, and maritime transport dependent export companies. The oil price dropped dramatically in 2016 remaining at the same level till the early 2018. This empirical case study examines and simulates bunker price data in relation to different vessel speeds. The paper looks at how different speed and oil price combinations impact transport costs and export business. The results of this simulation can be summarized with the notion that the negative economic impacts of the oil price variation can be mitigated to some extent by using lower vessel speeds, thus slow steaming, on short sea shipping (SSS). However, variable relations are not straightforward and they require additional studies.