Modes, fleets, lanes, and disruptions
Logistics posts
The operational side of freight emissions: vessel classes, container ships, ocean disruptions, modal shift, AIS-tracked vessels, chokepoint impacts. Numbers from real lanes, not models.
6 posts in this category
logistics
Slow steaming: the actual math, not the press release
The cubic speed-fuel relationship derived from naval hydrodynamics. 8,500 TEU container ship dropping from 22 to 17 knots saves 43% of voyage fuel but costs USD 235,000 in inventory carry per voyage. The break-even bunker price, and where slow steaming pays vs where it breaks.
logistics
How much CO2 does a container ship emit per kilometre? Numbers by vessel class
A ULCV emits about 0.6 g CO2e per tonne-km laden. A 3,000-TEU feeder emits about 12 g. Two orders of magnitude apart. We break down the per-class numbers using GLEC v3.2 factors and the IMO Fourth GHG Study.
logistics
Rerouting Around Hormuz Adds 6,400 km — Here's What That Means for CO2
The Strait of Hormuz carries 21% of global oil. A disruption forces tankers around the Cape of Good Hope, adding 6,400 km per voyage. We calculated the emission impact for VLCCs, LNG carriers, and container ships using GLEC v3.2.
logistics
Suez, Panama, Hormuz: How Chokepoint Closures Spike Freight Emissions
When the Ever Given blocked the Suez Canal in 2021, ships rerouted via the Cape added 3,000+ nautical miles and roughly 300,000 tonnes of extra CO2. We break down the emission math for three major chokepoints.
logistics
When Rail Beats Road (and When It Doesn't): A Carbon Cost Analysis
Rail emits 15-40 g CO2/tkm vs. road's 60-150 g. But that 75% saving disappears on routes under 300 km or where terminal transfers add 2+ days. We run the numbers for 6 common European corridors.