Whereas average sailing speed in the containership sector increased by up to 4% during the Covid-19 pandemic on the back of strong demand and in the face of widespread port congestion, the trend now has reversed.

According to an analysis by international shipping association BIMCO, mean speed during the first quarter of 2023 fell by 4% year-on-year to 13.8 knots. The shift reflects changes in the economic climate and operating conditions, and may perhaps be attributed in some measure to improved port conditions. The Copenhagen-based organisation considers that speeds could drop by 10% before 2025.