With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) launching its “Net Zero Framework” (NZF), Anaïs Rios, Senior Shipping Policy Officer at Seas At Risk, has called for wind propulsion technology to be prioritized as a tool for decarbonization and industrial transformation in the shipping industry. Wind propulsion technology not only offers the advantages of reducing costs and creating jobs but also provides a practical and feasible pathway for the shipping industry to achieve its decarbonization goals through compliance reward mechanisms.
Anaïs Rios believes that the adoption of the IMO’s “Net Zero Framework” should have been a logical choice. However, during the design and practical implementation stages, factors such as industry competitiveness, job security, and freight costs will still significantly influence decision-making. Rios stated: “Since the IMO has previously clarified that the ‘decarbonization transition should adhere to the principles of fairness and justice,’ then wind propulsion technology is a pragmatic and viable choice under this framework.”
Anaïs Rios recently participated in the preparation of the Seas At Risk “Wind First” report, the results of which confirm widespread industry conjecture. Vessels equipped with suction wings or rotor sails can reduce fuel costs by up to approximately 18%, equating to savings of up to $500,000 per ship annually. Rios pointed out that these savings can help shipowners cope with the future cost pressures of new, high-priced e-fuels, while also reducing the impact of fuel price volatility and EU/IMO carbon emission compliance costs on vessel operations. Whether retrofitting existing ships with sails or integrating wind power systems during new ship design, both can help stabilize shipping costs and prevent further increases in end-consumer goods prices.
The value of wind propulsion technology is not limited to fuel cost savings. Unlike many emerging automated technologies that replace human jobs, wind propulsion technology creates a significant number of skilled jobs in areas such as design, installation, and maintenance. Technicians in shipyards and ports can receive relevant training, and in the long term, local production of components could even be established.
As the adoption rate of wind propulsion technology increases, installation capacity and technical training must be scaled up simultaneously to avoid supply bottlenecks. This is particularly important for Africa, Latin America, and Small Island Developing States, which have the potential to become new hubs for maritime employment and manufacturing, thereby supporting the principles of a fair and just decarbonization transition.
Currently, wind propulsion technology has entered the demonstration and early adoption phase, but widespread uptake still requires policy and market drivers. The IMO’s “Net Zero Framework” presents a key opportunity to promote its普及.
While the framework focuses on reducing fuel carbon intensity and driving the transition from highly polluting fossil fuels to clean alternatives, it can incentivize “clean technologies” through its rule system. For example, establishing a “technology-specific multiplier” would grant additional “compliance credits” or financial incentives for each ton of CO₂ reduced through the use of technologies like wind power. This means that ships adopting wind propulsion technology could achieve higher compliance value when meeting NZF requirements, thereby reaching emission reduction targets faster and at lower cost, and attracting investment in emerging markets.
Rios concluded that for low- and middle-income countries, supporting and implementing the “Net Zero Framework” is not just a climate issue but also concerns long-term benefits such as job creation, enhanced industrial capacity, and maintaining affordable trade. Based on these advantages, she calls on delegates attending the upcoming IMO meeting: not only to adopt the “Net Zero Framework” but also to grant wind propulsion technology corresponding policy preference in subsequent technical negotiations, placing it at the forefront of the decarbonization “toolbox.” Wind propulsion technology offers clear advantages: its energy source is free, clean, and immediately available, while simultaneously reducing costs and creating skilled jobs, providing a practical path for a fair transition in the shipping industry.
