WITH fuel bills accounting for 60 per cent of voyage costs, the world's No 3 container line, Marseilles-based CMA CGM, is considering continuing cost cutting slow steaming when the slack season is in full swing.
"Many vessels are already operating from Asia to Europe at between 18k and 22k instead of 24k, and the next step could involve high season/low season loops," said CMA CGM representative in Turkey Fadi Issa, according to London's International Freighting Weekly.
The French shipping line introduced slow-steaming in August when the FAL5 service was temporarily re-routed from Europe back to Asia via the Cape of Good Hope. The service is shared with Maersk Line (AE8), and is now in the process of reverting back to Suez, it said.
The report from London-based Containerisation International's Medfreight Conference, added that some ships sailing back from Europe to Asia are already be operating at even slower speeds between 14k and 16k.
