GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026
Carbon intensity per container kilometer
Unlike total emission volumes, carbon intensity per container kilometer measures CO₂ output per transport unit and distance travelled—typically expressed in grams of CO₂ per container-kilometre (gCO₂/ckm).
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike total emission volumes, carbon intensity per container kilometer measures CO₂ output per transport unit and distance travelled—typically expressed in grams of CO₂ per container-kilometre (gCO₂/ckm). Because it adjusts for vessel size and load factor, the metric enables meaningful comparisons across ships, carriers, and trade lanes. Shippers use it as a KPI in sustainability reports and increasingly as an award criterion in freight tenders. Slow steaming, hull optimisation, and alternative fuels such as LNG or biomethanol measurably reduce this figure. It should not be confused with the IMO's EEXI or CII indices, which are vessel-level regulatory ratings based on tonne-kilometres rather than container units.
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