Energy efficiency remains one of shipping’s most effective and economical decarbonisation strategies, yet adoption across the industry remains uneven. Drawing on regulatory analysis and industry experience, this research challenges current Carbon Intensity Indicator design assumptions, highlights incentive and measurement gaps, and proposes pathways to accelerate efficiency improvements, reduce costs and strengthen maritime sustainability

Wind-assisted propulsion is gaining momentum in the tanker sector, but its value depends heavily on vessel type and trading patterns. Route-based simulations of wing sails and rotor sails reveal meaningful fuel savings, improved Carbon Intensity Indicator performance and extended regulatory compliance, highlighting wind propulsion as a practical bridge toward future low-carbon maritime technologies.

The Cruise Itinerary Optimisation Tool is helping cruise operators balance sustainability and commercial performance through data-driven voyage planning. Developed within the EU-funded CHEK project, the concept optimises port selection and scheduling to reduce Carbon Intensity Indicator impacts while meeting operational constraints, demonstrating how intelligent planning can support more efficient and environmentally responsible cruising.

As the cruise industry accelerates toward net-zero emissions, questions are growing over whether current carbon intensity measures truly reward meaningful emissions reductions. This analysis highlights shortcomings in the existing CII framework and introduces an alternative cruise-specific metric designed to better reflect passenger operations, support decarbonisation goals and encourage more effective sustainability strategies.

Wind-Assisted Ship Propulsion is emerging as a powerful lever for improving carbon intensity performance. By integrating wind energy into commercial trading strategies and voyage planning, operators can reduce fuel consumption, lower emissions and strengthen CII outcomes. The approach highlights untapped opportunities to extend sustainability gains across global shipping and beyond.

Voyage optimisation is emerging as a powerful tool for improving Carbon Intensity Indicator performance and reducing emissions. By combining real-time vessel performance data, advanced weather routing and dynamic propulsion control, operators can make more informed decisions at sea. A real-world case study demonstrates how human expertise and automation deliver benefits.

A revised AER-CII framework could address long-standing concerns around correction factors, voyage exclusions and transport work calculations without removing fuel or distance data. By introducing equivalent transport work, the approach aims to improve fairness across ship types, better reward energy-efficiency measures and support practical decarbonisation pathways while preserving regulatory integrity

Carbon Intensity Indicator regulations may be driving unintended behaviours in ice-class shipping. Using a maritime sandbox that combines ship performance modelling, route optimisation and environmental data, this research reveals how current correction factors can incentivise higher-emission operating choices, offering valuable insights for refining future decarbonisation policies and compliance frameworks.

Carbon intensity regulations are driving demand for more accurate operational energy data. Focusing on CII correction factors for energy-intensive cargoes, this research explores the data acquisition technologies needed to support compliant reporting while enabling holistic vessel optimisation. The findings highlight how smarter energy monitoring can strengthen efficiency, transparency and decarbonisation.

Decarbonising bulk carrier fleets will demand both immediate efficiency gains and long-term design transformation. This analysis examines retrofit strategies, operational measures and emerging propulsion concepts driven by CII requirements, while exploring future-ready vessel designs and alternative fuels. The findings reveal how today’s decisions could shape competitive, low-carbon bulk shipping ahead.

Wind propulsion is becoming increasingly attractive as tightening Carbon Intensity Indicator requirements reshape maritime economics. By assessing rotor sail installations against fuel costs, operating profiles and regulatory pressures, this research demonstrates how emissions regulations can strengthen the business case for wind-assisted propulsion, extending compliance, reducing fuel consumption and improving long-term investment returns.

Silicone-based low-friction coatings are emerging as a powerful yet often overlooked decarbonisation tool. By simultaneously reducing hull resistance and limiting biofouling growth, these advanced coatings deliver sustained energy efficiency gains, lower fuel consumption and improved Carbon Intensity Indicator performance, positioning them as both a technical innovation and an operational strategy.