Cargo ship fuel consumption vs cars

by Alex

Expert answer:

Quick answer

Cargo ships burn tons of fuel daily, but per ton of cargo shipped, they can be more efficient than cars. Cars use less total fuel but carry fewer passengers or goods.

Detailed answer

Cargo ships, especially large container vessels, burn heavy fuel oil or marine diesel in quantities of dozens or hundreds of tons each day. This sounds enormous, yet they carry thousands of containers or vehicles across oceans. On a per-ton or per-item basis, shipping by sea can be very efficient relative to air freight or individual car usage.

Cars, on the other hand, might only burn a few gallons per trip but often transport only one or two people. Per passenger-mile, efficiency can drop if it’s a lone driver in a heavy vehicle. Environmental concerns remain: cargo ships emit CO2 and sulfur oxides, spurring development of cleaner fuels, scrubbers, and improved hull designs. Meanwhile, cars keep evolving with hybrids, EVs, and better mpg ratings. In global logistics, though, ships remain the backbone due to their ability to move vast cargo at relatively low per-ton fuel cost, despite the high absolute burn.

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