The Global Maritime Forum has announced the publication of a new insight brief which explores the risks of underestimating the potential of speed reduction as a tool for cutting fuel consumption and maritime emissions.
Going slower to reach net zero faster: Unlocking the full value of speed reduction through port call optimisation looks at the business case for vessel speed reduction, particularly when combined with port call optimisation.
Reducing unnecessary waiting time at ports allows vessels to complete the same number of voyages at lower speeds and without fleet expansion, delivering greater emissions reductions and lower costs. The brief demonstrates how improving the operational efficiency of voyages offers a triple win by reducing fuel use and operating expenditures, reducing GHG emissions, and paving the way for the uptake of more expensive zero-emission fuels down the road.
It draws on the World Bank’s marginal abatement cost curve analysis, published in October 2025, to demonstrate that port call optimisation is a practical, near-term measure that policymakers and industry should actively pursue. A future insight brief will build on this by exploring how real-world examples of speed reduction and port call optimisation are being implemented.
The insight brief can be read here.
Image: Vessels can adjust speed to arrive precisely when a berth becomes available (source: Global Maritime Forum)
