Shipping should place greater emphasis on technologies that can reduce emissions today rather than waiting for future fuels to become widely available, according to wind propulsion company BAR Technologies.

In an emailed statement on Wednesday responding to a new EY Greece report on shipping's route to net zero, the company said uncertainty over alternative fuels, regulation and infrastructure should not delay investment in proven energy-saving technologies.

The EY Greece report said shipping’s transition to net zero will be uneven and affected by factors including the availability of alternative marine fuels and supporting infrastructure.

BAR Technologies said wind propulsion is already delivering fuel and emissions savings on commercial vessels and should be included in the industry’s immediate decarbonisation efforts, alongside the longer-term shift toward new fuels.

"Shipping needs to stop treating decarbonisation as something that only begins when future fuels arrive or every detail of the IMO's Net-Zero Framework is settled," John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies, said.

"The industry cannot allow the absence of perfect policy certainty to become an excuse for inaction. Proven technologies are available now, and owners can act today."

BAR Technologies said that more than 100 cargo ships are now equipped with wind propulsion systems, citing data from the International Windship Association.

The company expects 10 vessels to be operating with 23 of its WindWings wind propulsion installations by the end of 2026, with combined CO2 savings of around 100 mt/day.

Cooper said the main challenge is no longer the technology itself, but making investment more attractive, as shipowners weigh near-term efficiency measures against uncertain fuel availability and policy timelines.

"Wind propulsion has already passed the technology test," he said.

"Affordable finance, alongside charterparty structures that share the benefits fairly, is what will unlock deployment at scale."

Ship & Bunker News Team