Container ships’ emissions surged amid the Red Sea crisis - Xeneta
Amid the ongoing Red Sea shipping crisis, container ships sailing between Asia and the Mediterranean emitted about 63% more emissions during the first quarter compared to the prior quarter, data released by Xeneta shows.
PHOTO: Vessels transiting the Suez Canal. Getty Images
The ongoing attacks by the Houthi militia have forced ships to avoid transits through the Suez Canal, resulting in the redirection of trade routes from the Far East to Europe and the US East Coast to the longer path via the Cape of Good Hope in Africa.
This decision to navigate around the Cape of Good Hope has resulted in container ships sailing significantly longer distances, leading to an 11% increase in the average distance covered compared to routes in early 2023. As a result, more bunker fuel is being consumed to cover these extended distances, resulting in higher carbon emissions from these vessels.
The sea routes from Asia to the Mediterranean have gotten longer by 5,800 nautical miles, the report stated.
“All these aspects together support an estimate of 2 million mt/year of extra fuel needed for container ships,” Xeneta chief analyst Peter Sand told ENGINE in December.
Ships are also sailing at higher speeds to compensate for longer distances, which has resulted in increased bunker fuel consumption and higher emissions.
Data released by Xeneta also reveals that disruption in the Red Sea has pushed some shippers to use air freight instead to protect supply chains.
With some of the largest shipping firms still choosing to avoid the Red Sea, cargo from Asia is now arriving via sea to ports such as Jebel Ali in the UAE before being airlifted out of Dubai Airport for further transportation to destinations in Europe and North America.
As a result, air cargo demand from Dubai Airport to European destinations increased by 190% in March compared to the same month in 2023.
By Debarati Bhattacharjee
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