This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Fri 5 Jan 2018, 15:10 GMT

Boxships top bunker consumption ranking: report


Container ships, bulkers, and oil tankers accounted for around 62% of global bunker consumption in 2015, report says.



Container ships, bulk carriers, and oil tankers accounted for around 62 percent of global bunker consumption and 49 percent of distance travelled in 2015 despite making up only 30 percent of the global fleet, a report published by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) says.

According to the document, approximately 5,000 container ships made up around 7 percent of the global fleet in 2015, yet consumed the most fuel (25 percent) and energy (26 percent) of any ship class.

Bulk carriers represented 15 percent of the industry's fleet with 10,572 ships, and used 21 percent of shipping's fuel and energy, whilst 5,733 oil tankers made up 8 percent of the world's vessels, consuming 15 percent of its fuel and 14 percent of its energy.

Also making up the top five were chemical tankers and general cargo vessels, with the former representing 6 percent of the world's ships and 7 percent of its bunker and energy use, and the latter making up 13 percent of all vessels and 6 percent of fuel and energy consumption.

Liquefied gas tankers ranked sixth out of 22 ship classes in terms of fuel consumption (5 percent) and energy use (6 percent) - despite making up a small proportion of the fleet in terms of number (2 percent).

While cruise ships were said to represent 1 percent of the world fleet, fuel and energy consumption was calculated to be 4 percent.

Fishing vessels represented 10 percent of the world fleet, accounted for 9 percent of ship operating hours and 7 percent of distance travelled, but were deemed to have been responsible for only 2 percent of fuel consumption and 1 percent of energy use due to the relatively small size of their engines. A similar pattern was observed for tugs and other service vessels.


Two vessels at sea. Abrasive reality: How elevated cat fines can damage marine engines | VPS  

Fuel testing firm provides advice on managing cat fine levels and avoiding engine damage.

EU share of world fleet graphic. European shipowners control 34.5% of global fleet but lag on sustainable fuel production  

New study highlights Europe’s shipping dominance while warning of Asia’s lead in alternative fuel development.

O Bunkering Board of Directors graphic. O Bunkering announces new board of directors following merger  

Marine fuel supplier forms board to guide strategic direction and governance after recent merger.

Clean ammonia project pipeline chart as of April 2026. Clean ammonia project pipeline reaches 144 MMT by 2034 as industry advances  

Gena Solutions tracks 327 clean ammonia projects, with four reaching development milestones in April.

O Bunkering and Marafi Services merger ceremony. O Bunkering and Marafi Services announce merger  

Omani firms join forces to accelerate growth and improve operational efficiency.

Order ceremony for LNG dual-fuel container vessels. OOCL orders twelve 13,600-teu LNG dual-fuel container vessels from Chinese shipbuilder  

Hong Kong-based carrier’s first LNG-powered vessels mark entry into alternative fuel segment.

Lucia Cosulich vessel. Cosulich launches second methanol-ready bunker vessel at Chinese shipyard  

Lucia Cosulich is the second of four sister vessels being built for alternative fuel bunkering.

LNG bunkering vessel render. Wärtsilä Gas Solutions secures order for LNG systems on four bunkering vessels  

GSX Energy orders systems for vessels being built at Chinese shipyard Nantong CIMC Sinopacific.

Guo Si ship-to-ship (STS) bunkering operation. Chimbusco Pan Nation delivers 2,500 mt of B100 biodiesel in China’s largest single bunkering  

Hong Kong operation claims 89% greenhouse gas emissions reduction compared with conventional marine fuel.

Caroline Yang, Diana Mok and Francois-Xavier Accard, IBIA. IBIA appoints three new members to Asia regional board  

Caroline Yang, Diana Mok and Francois-Xavier Accard join the board following unanimous approval.


↑  Back to Top