News / Carbon footprint concern and rising bunker prices slow Cape routings

Cape of Good Hope © Pitchi

All three east-west vessel-sharing alliances have continued to route some vessels via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid Suez Canal fees, despite discounts that kicked in on 1 May.

However, several shippers have complained about the additional carbon footprint the extended journeys generate.

For example, a voyage from Asia to North Europe via the Cape adds some 3,000 miles and five to 10 days to the transit time, resulting in the ship burning up to 1,000 tons more fuel.

According to one ...