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.


Petrobras logo. Petrobras suspends MGO export sales following Brazilian government’s 50% export tax  

State oil company halts distillate fuel exports while assessing impact of new levy.

The LNG bunkering vessel Alisios LNG. Scale Green Energy launches 12,500-cbm LNG bunkering vessel in Spain  

Alisios LNG will supply marine fuel from the Huelva plant, chartered by Axpo Iberia.

The pure car and truck carrier Tourmaline Ace. Piraeus port signs LNG-fuelled car carrier deal with MOL  

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines' LNG-powered vessel made inaugural call at Greek port on 10 March.

Hydrogen ship render. DNV study recommends design-based safety approach for hydrogen-fuelled vessels  

Study for EMSA calls for secondary enclosures across all hydrogen components, including open deck.

The pure car and truck carrier Grande Seoul. Grimaldi takes delivery of ammonia-ready car carrier Grande Seoul  

Ninth vessel in series joins fleet for Asia-Europe service with 50% lower emissions.

Photograph of Oğuz Yazici, Country Manager at Oilmar DMCC. Oilmar appoints Turkey country manager as part of regional expansion  

Dubai-based bunker and cargo trader promotes from within to lead Turkish operations.

Photograph of the GNV Aurora ferry's first LNG bunkering in Genoa, in March 2026, with delivery tanker Green Zeebrugge alongside. GNV Aurora completes first LNG bunkering in Genoa  

GNV's second LNG-powered ferry receives fuel in Italian port, with a shore power trial scheduled.

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL) logo. MOL acquires 25% stake in V.Ships France, adds LNG carriers to managed fleet  

Japanese shipping company takes equity position in ship manager’s French subsidiary.

Equinor logo. Equinor signs two-year biomethanol supply deal with Wallenius Wilhelmsen  

Norwegian energy company to supply alternative fuel to shipping and vehicle logistics firm.

Phograph of Shanghai skyline with Oriental Pearl Tower in centre. Sing Fuels seeks bunker trader for new Shanghai base  

Candidates with two to four years’ industry experience and an established client portfolio preferred.


↑  Back to Top