Lower speed

EILEEN Minton (Postbag March 15) overlooks an important fact when comparing a ship s fuel consumption with that of aircraft. By weight, the amount of cargo moved by aircraft is tiny in comparison with that by ships, whose fuel consumption per tonne mile i

EILEEN Minton (Postbag March 15) overlooks an important fact when comparing a ship's fuel consumption with that of aircraft. By weight, the amount of cargo moved by aircraft is tiny in comparison with that by ships, whose fuel consumption per tonne mile is the lowest of all forms of transport.

Surely she cannot imagine a cargo of 100,000 tonnes of iron core going by air?

Or indeed, boulders from Norway for UK sea defences carried by aircraft together with heavy cargos of timber.

Virtually all cargo, which is heavy in relation to value is carried by ships whenever practical.

One thing that would greatly reduce cargo ships fuel use would be a reduction in their speed, but at present economic conditions act against that.

Mr R Castle

High Stile

Dunmow