Lloyd's Register says slow steaming wasteful, costly

Lloyd’s Register has dismissed the "slow steaming" concept, introduced to counteract skyrocketing fuel prices, as costly and harmful to the environment.

Containerships, declared the marine classification society, are built to operate at higher outputs and will need to be more closely monitored when slow steaming to avoid loss of engine performance, fuel quality, and lubrication oil consumption when moving below 20 knots. The large containership is designed for 25 knots at 70,000kW main engine power and will require just 50 per cent power when reduced to 20 knots, said Lloyds Register in a statement. As voyage times increase, fuel savings will be less, it said, adding that at slower speeds, NOx emissions also increase, resulting in waste engine capacity and higher capital costs from unused power potential. Also cited were losses in heat recovery systems, turbocharger and propeller efficiency as well as increased fouling of hulls and propellers. Lloyds Register also warned of increased compensatory fuel consumption of auxiliary engines to supplement loss of heat recovery capability, increased lubricating oil consumption and possible increased vibration levels risking safe, reliable ship operations.
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