Better Port Scheduling Would Reduce Fuel Consumption, Vessel Emissions

Aktas calls for ports to review and update their communication systems to better coordinate with ships on port times

Dr. Emel Aktas, Senior Lecturer in Logistics and Supply Chain Management at Cranfield School of Management, says that the uncertainty of port times can result in ships travelling faster then they might need to, which leads to unnecessarily higher fuel consumption and higher carbon emissions, industry portal Link2 reports.

Vessels use significantly more fuel and produce more emissions when they increase speed by even a small amount, and when they slow steam it reduces both bunker consumption and the associated emissions.

"If they arrive at the port earlier than their nominated time window, they will have to wait and if they are late, they will have to wait for a new slot. This delay then results in ships increasing their speed in order to try and make up time to get to the next port in time," explained Aktas.

However, due to the uncertainty of port times, it is not guaranteed that a slot at the next port will be available upon arrival.

This not only means potential further delays, but that the vessel used more fuel than necessary as it could have slow steamed to save fuel and arrived at a later time.

"The uncertainty around port timings is the result of less than perfect planning and communication systems that are used by port authorities across the world," Akta says. 

"Better coordination between ships and ports will help both parties achieve higher service levels," she concludes.

Aktas suggests that port authorities should review the systems and technology they currently use for communication and scheduling of ships, so that out-of-date systems can be addressed in order to improve efficiencies and ultimately the industry's impact on the environment.

Last year Katharina Stanzel, Managing Director of INTERTANKO, said that the use of "just in time" virtual arrival systems can reduce uncertainty at ports which is a "win win" for both vessel owner and charterer.