Marine Fuel Consumption Calculator
Reviewed by Hamza Gujjar, Algorithm Architect & Software Developer
Last updated: July 27, 2026Marine Fuel Consumption Calculator
Marine engines are conventionally rated by Specific Fuel Oil Consumption (SFOC) - a standard shipping industry efficiency metric measuring grams of fuel burned per kilowatt-hour of power delivered.
Total Fuel (g) = SFOC x Engine Power (kW) x Voyage Time (hours)
Example
SFOC of 180 g/kWh, 10,000 kW engine power, over a 100-hour voyage:
Total Fuel = 180 x 10,000 x 100 = 180,000,000 g = 180 tonnes
Typical SFOC Values
Modern large marine diesel engines commonly achieve SFOC figures in the range of roughly 170-200 g/kWh - efficiency varies by engine load, with most marine diesel engines running most fuel-efficiently somewhere around 70-85% of rated maximum power rather than at full throttle, which is a key consideration in voyage speed and fuel optimization planning ("slow steaming" strategies).
Why This Matters for Shipping Economics
Fuel typically represents one of the largest operating cost line items for commercial shipping - even small improvements in SFOC or voyage speed optimization can translate into substantial fuel cost savings across a large vessel's annual operating schedule, which is why fuel efficiency remains a central focus of modern ship design and route planning.