It's a sorry state of affairs when the most advanced containerships in the world would be outpaced by a sailing ship of the 1800s, but that is what the state of containership transport has come to...
Whilst slow steaming does save fuel, I do wonder just how the equations add up when you consider extra vessels for rotations (with consequent crewing needs) along with the fact that there would be some engine issues and - just maybe - some unhappy customers, especially those with short shelf life goods.
The industry is facing some tough choices and when you combine over-capacity, frighteningly high capital costs and significant barriers to exit, you don't exactly have too many choices, but sometimes you may make a choice that could just make the grave that much deeper further down the track.
As always Maersk leads the industry....just this time, backwards.
