Clean and dirty tanker owners have successfully reduced steaming speeds from an average 12-13 knots to 10-11 knots during industry downcycles or to improve earnings on certain routes when viable. When traveling at these lower speeds, daily bunker cost savings amount to 20-25% for a VLCC up to 10 years of age. At 10 knots on the ballast leg, these tankers burn 48 mt/d rather than the average 61-62 mt/d at13 knots, according to shipping sources.