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Missing in Action? Speed optimization and slow steaming in maritime shipping

Author

Listed:
  • Assmann, Lisa

    (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Andersson, Jonas

    (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics)

  • Eskeland, Gunnar S.

    (Dept. of Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics)

Abstract

This paper analyzes the claim, made by both academics and by industry insiders, that vessels speed up under conditions of high freight rates and low bunker prices. The rationale for the claim is that a ship should move slowly when high bunker prices make energy cost savings great and when the low reight rates give little temptation to rush for the next transport job. The analysis is based on the theoretical model for speed optimization by Ronen (1982) applied to AIS1 data on actual speeds of all VLCCs2 leaving from the Persian Gulf to main destinations in Japan, South Korea, China from 2006 to 2012. We find some support for the theory, however with elasticities, both for freight rates and bunker prices, of smaller magnitude than expected. We also find that speed optimizing behaviour is much more pronounced on backhaul trips than on laden trips and that the speed on trips to Japan is almost completely insensitive to changes in freight rates and bunker prices. Our conclusion is that there is a potential for gains from more adoption of slow steaming.

Suggested Citation

  • Assmann, Lisa & Andersson, Jonas & Eskeland, Gunnar S., 2015. "Missing in Action? Speed optimization and slow steaming in maritime shipping," Discussion Papers 2015/13, Norwegian School of Economics, Department of Business and Management Science.
  • Handle: RePEc:hhs:nhhfms:2015_013
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/279034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Takis Varelas & Sofia Archontaki & John Dimotikalis & Osman Turan & Iraklis Lazakis & Orestis Varelas, 2013. "Optimizing Ship Routing to Maximize Fleet Revenue at Danaos," Interfaces, INFORMS, vol. 43(1), pages 37-47, February.
    2. Roar Adland & Siri P. Strandenes, 2007. "A Discrete-Time Stochastic Partial Equilibrium Model of the Spot Freight Market," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 41(2), pages 189-218, May.
    3. Olaf Jonkeren & Jos van Ommeren & Piet Rietveld, 2012. "Freight Prices, Fuel Prices, and Speed," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 46(2), pages 175-188, May.
    4. Keen, Michael & Parry, Ian & Strand, Jon, 2012. "Market-based instruments for international aviation and shipping as a source of climate finance," Policy Research Working Paper Series 5950, The World Bank.
    5. J Fernando Alvarez & Tore Longva & Erna S Engebrethsen, 2010. "A methodology to assess vessel berthing and speed optimization policies," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 12(4), pages 327-346, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Roar Adland & Haiying Jia, 2018. "Dynamic speed choice in bulk shipping," Maritime Economics & Logistics, Palgrave Macmillan;International Association of Maritime Economists (IAME), vol. 20(2), pages 253-266, June.
    2. Prochazka, Vít & Adland, Roar & Wolff, François-Charles, 2019. "Contracting decisions in the crude oil transportation market: Evidence from fixtures matched with AIS data," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 37-53.
    3. Regli, Frederik & Nomikos, Nikos K., 2019. "The eye in the sky – Freight rate effects of tanker supply," Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 402-424.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Speed optimization; maritime shipping; freight rates; bunker prices;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q00 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - General - - - General

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