Why do two carriers on the same trade lane show a 31% emissions gap if they're running similar routes?

According to VesselBot's analysis, the difference stems from operational execution rather than distance alone. Factors include vessel deployment decisions, cargo utilization rates, and voyage-level scheduling. Hapag-Lloyd achieved 80.7 gCO2e per TEU-km versus MSC's 117.5 gCO2e on the Northern Europe-North America East Coast route, a gap attributable to how each carrier optimizes loading, speed, and scheduling rather than route differences.

What is the relationship between vessel utilization and emissions intensity?

Vessel utilization is one of the strongest predictors of voyage-level emissions. High-efficiency voyages averaged 80% utilization carrying approximately 9,000 TEUs, compared to just 31% utilization for the least efficient voyages. This demonstrates that better cargo consolidation and fuller vessels dramatically reduce emissions per container, independent of vessel type or trade lane.

Why did fleet-wide emissions intensity increase 1.5% year-over-year if most vessel segments improved efficiency?

Five of six vessel size categories posted efficiency gains (ranging from 0.9% to 10.6%), but feeder vessels—which accounted for 63.9% of all Q2 voyages—became less efficient. This single segment's decline was sufficient to pull the fleet-wide average downward despite broader improvements, illustrating the risk of relying on averages that obscure segment-level performance trends.

How do mega-ships compare to smaller vessels in terms of emissions efficiency?

Mega-ships (Neo-Panamax and VLCS) ran only 7.4% of voyages but generated 43.5% of transport work while accounting for just 27.4% of total emissions. In contrast, feeder and Panamax vessels operated 80% of voyages, generated only 26% of transport work, and produced 45.6% of emissions, demonstrating the superior efficiency of larger vessel deployment for mainline routes.

Should shippers switch carriers based on this emissions data?

The analysis suggests procurement teams should evaluate specific carriers on specific trade lanes rather than relying on company-wide averages. Hapag-Lloyd's 59% emissions advantage over the Northern Europe-North America East Coast average indicates that carrier selection and service specification can materially reduce shipment carbon intensity, making this a legitimate procurement criterion alongside cost and service level.

Sustainability & ESG

High Impact

Ocean Carriers Show 31% Emissions Gap on Same Trade Lane

Sep 8, 2026

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The signal

VesselBot's analysis of 86,389 container voyages reveals a critical insight for sustainability-focused shippers: trade-lane averages mask enormous performance variations between carriers operating identical routes. 3% efficiency gap despite similar distances and ports. This finding challenges the prevailing industry practice of using fleet-wide or trade-lane averages for emissions benchmarking and procurement decisions. The analysis demonstrates that vessel utilization emerges as a primary emissions driver, with high-efficiency voyages averaging 80% utilization versus just 31% for low-efficiency operations.

4% of emissions. 9%) but drive proportionally higher emissions, pulling the overall fleet-wide average upward despite efficiency gains in five of six vessel size categories. For supply chain professionals, this research fundamentally changes how to evaluate ocean carriers on environmental performance. Shippers can no longer rely on carrier-reported averages or industry benchmarks to understand their actual shipment emissions.

The variation in execution—how vessels are loaded, routed, and scheduled—creates measurable carbon differences equivalent to switching carriers entirely. This opens strategic opportunities for procurement teams to negotiate lower-emission voyages and creates competitive differentiation for carriers optimizing operations.

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#carbon-intensity

#container-carriers

#sustainability-benchmarking

#well-to-wake-analysis

#vessel-utilization

#supply-chain-transparency

#emissions-gap

#ESG-shipping

#trade-lane-performance

Frequently Asked Questions

What This Means for Your Supply Chain

Simulation Suggestion

strategic

What if you could increase average vessel utilization from 50% to 75% across your ocean shipments?

Model the cost and emissions impact of consolidating less-than-full-vessel bookings into fuller vessel deployments, simulating a shift in average utilization from current industry levels (31-80% range depending on efficiency tier) to a target of 75% utilization across your portfolio. Assess carbon intensity reduction and transportation cost changes.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

strategic

What if carrier selection on key trade lanes shifted based on emissions intensity instead of price alone?

Model a procurement scenario where you prioritize carriers demonstrating superior emissions performance (e.g., Hapag-Lloyd on Northern Europe-North America East Coast showing 59% advantage) as a primary selection criterion, accepting potential cost premium to achieve ESG targets. Simulate impact on total landed cost, service level, and carbon footprint across your top 20% of ocean freight volume.

Run this scenario

Simulation Suggestion

this month

What if you switched 30% of your volume from feeder services to mega-ship deployments?

Simulate the supply chain impact of shifting shipment patterns toward larger vessel types (Neo-Panamax and VLCS) where possible, reducing feeder vessel dependency. Model the effects on transit times, ports served, consolidation requirements, and overall emissions intensity given that mega-ships achieve 43.5% of transport work with only 27.4% of emissions.

Run this scenario

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