One recent study concludes that mandatory slow
steaming is legally feasible either under a global
agreement or unilaterally as a condition of entry to a
port and that it entails both benefits and costs (Faber
et al., 2012). Another study analysing four maritime
routes finds that the cost of slow steaming for shippers
and consignees (inventory costs, waiting time,
interest, insurance and depreciation) does not make
slow steaming viable at the supply chain level (Lloyd’s
List, 2013f). For shippers, the long-term acceptability
and sustainability of slow steaming rest on their ability
to adapt their global supply chains, production and
distribution to longer transit times while preserving
reliability and predictability of services. Adapting to
slow steaming can be more challenging for shippers
that are operating lean and just-in-time techniques
and who may need to reconfigure their production
and distribution (Lloyd’s List, 2013g). Another concern
relates to the technical requirements associated
with slow steaming and the need to retrofit engines
on existing ships which generates additional costs
(Wiesmann, 2010).