How a Container Line Cut Fuel Use by 22 Percent with Slow Steaming

The Operations Podcast with Fexingo: Process, People, and Profit in Modern Business · Aug 25, 2026 · 9m · transcript

In this episode of The Operations Podcast, Lucas and Luna dive into the operational strategy behind slow steaming—the practice of running cargo ships at reduced speeds to cut fuel consumption. They focus on a specific case: how one major container line reduced fuel use by 22 percent across its fleet, saving millions and cutting emissions. The conversation breaks down the physics of fuel efficiency, the trade-offs for supply chains, and the surprising operational rigor required to make slow steaming work—from voyage planning to just-in-time arrival. They also explore how this tactic, once a…