Bunkers
The fuel a ship burns and, by extension, the act of taking on that fuel (bunkering). Usually the single largest voyage cost.
- Category
- Cargo and Operations
- Last reviewed
How it works
Bunkers are the marine fuels that power a ship’s main and auxiliary engines, historically heavy fuel oil and today increasingly very-low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), marine gas oil and alternative fuels. Bunkering is the operation of loading that fuel, by barge, pipeline or truck.
Bunker cost is typically the biggest single voyage expense and a direct input to TCE, so bunker price moves at the major hubs (Singapore, Rotterdam, Fujairah, Houston) reshape voyage economics and trade patterns.
Where it shows up on The Maritime
Also known as: bunker fuel, bunkering, marine fuel.
Related terms
Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO)
Marine fuel blended to the global sulphur cap: the compliant fuel for most waters since the IMO sulphur rules took effect.
Scrubber
An exhaust gas cleaning system that removes sulphur oxides from a ship’s emissions, letting her burn cheaper high-sulphur fuel.
Time Charter Equivalent (TCE)
A voyage’s daily earnings net of voyage costs: the single number that makes a voyage charter comparable with a time charter rate.
Slow Steaming
The practice of sailing deliberately below design speed to cut fuel consumption, emissions and effective fleet supply.
More cargo and operations terms
A plain-English reference definition: our own explanation of a standard shipping concept, not a licensed source or legal advice. See the full glossary or the broader maritime dictionary.
Last reviewed: .