Bunkers
The fuel a ship burns — and, by extension, the act of taking on that fuel (bunkering). Usually the single largest voyage cost.
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.
On TheMaritime
Also known as: bunker fuel, bunkering, marine fuel.
Related terms
Very Low Sulphur Fuel OilVLSFO
Marine fuel with no more than 0.50% sulphur, the compliant fuel for most waters under the IMO 2020 sulphur cap.
Scrubber
An exhaust gas cleaning system that removes sulphur oxides from a ship’s emissions, letting her burn cheaper high-sulphur fuel.
Time Charter EquivalentTCE
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
Deliberately sailing below design speed to cut fuel consumption, emissions and effective fleet supply.
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: June 2026.