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The most effective route to meet shipping’s new energy efficiency requirements

NAPA Fleet Intelligence’s easy-to-use tools for monitoring technical performance allows ship operators to gain true insight into GHG reduction measures taken, it says.
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Weather Routing NAPA

The following article was contributed by NAPA Shipping Solutions for sharing on Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times:

Written by Ossi Mettälä, Sales Manager, NAPA Shipping Solutions

Two new measures will enter into effect at the start of 2023 – the energy efficiency index for existing ships (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII). While EEXI is concerned with how ships are equipped and designed, CII is an indicator of how they operate. It is based on the Annual Efficiency Ratio which sums all the carbon emissions from ballast and laden voyages to port stays, and divides the result by the deadweight and distance sailed in a year (to give grams of CO2 per DWT mile).

Slow steaming is an obvious candidate for boosting CII for ship owners and operators. However, its effectiveness is limited without the potential for dynamic decision-making on a range of external operating considerations, such as weather. Owners and operators using slow steaming as the sole route to maintain a vessel’s CII rating are also at risk by operating in a way that threatens the commercial longevity of their fleet or vessel. CII requirements include a required reduction factor, which is set to become 11% more stringent by 2026 (relative to 2019), thereby constraining operational flexibility. Failing to optimise every element of operations could lead to a low CII rating; a rating that is unattractive, to charterers, shippers, institutions and consumers seeking to be more sustainable.

As CII is measured by the grams of CO2 emitted per cargo-carrying capacity and nautical mile, increasing fuel efficiency through intelligent voyage optimization is an easy and effective route to supporting true operational efficiency. NAPA’s voyage optimization and ship performance monitoring platform – NAPA Fleet Intelligence – enables all stakeholders to view real-time weather updates and is combined with accurate vessel-specific performance models to calculate how much fuel the vessel would consume on different route alternatives and at different speeds. This helps predict arrival time accurately and enables the ship’s crew to take advantage of a more balanced speed profile without risking their ETA.

Likewise, the preliminary results of a recent study conducted by our in-house experts found that limiting engine power would only impact speed in limited circumstances – further demonstrating why reducing engine power alone would be insufficient to achieve greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) reductions at scale. The retro-optimization study explored the potential effect of EEXI on the transportation capacity, total emissions and carbon intensity of the global bulker fleet with NAPA Fleet Intelligence. We used real voyage data from 1500 bulkers over 12 months in 2019 and found for most of the year, if EEXI had been in effect, vessel operations would have remained largely unaffected.

In the same study, we found that the implementation of EEXI would reduce CO2 emissions by an estimated 6.6%. This not only demonstrates the scale of challenge for shipping to meet the IMO’s emerging environmental regulation, but the importance of data-driven technologies in measuring the actual impact of efficiency measures and tactics.

Lost efficiency gains

To further demonstrate the potential benefit of voyage optimization in helping drive the decarbonization of the shipping industry, NAPA also analysed over a year of past transatlantic voyage data for MR tankers (47 voyages) to see how they performed compared to how they could have if they used weather routing. We found that vessels would have saved an average of 15.9% emissions with better routing and a steadier speed-profile.

The potential fuel savings that these vessels demonstrate the dynamic nature of long voyages, but equally, that there are weather and sea current conditions, on coastal areas for example, that can impact performance. As just one example: Neste, a charterer that takes an active collaborative role in voyage planning, engages in a constant dialogue with crews using NAPA Voyage Optimization. In planning a voyage from Houston to South Africa, they were able to save 37.3 tons of fuel compared to the Master’s original plan by using weather routing. Most of the savings were due to avoiding sailing against the currents off the coast of Brazil.

Measured gains

Adding new abatement technologies, applying timely maintenance and hull cleaning are further important way of keeping CII ratings on track. However, confirming the impact of these measures is not as simple as looking at fuel consumption reports day to day. Consumption will rise and fall depending on ship speed, draft, and weather conditions. Only by correcting for those factors will a ship operator gain true insight into the measures taken. NAPA Fleet Intelligence’s easy-to-use tools for monitoring technical performance suit this purpose.

Expanding from this, shipping companies can use the insights they gain to look to the longer-term tightening of regulations and collaborate further with their partners by creating a feedback loop that incorporates performance data into timely vessel maintenance, or even energy efficiency retrofit projects.

With access to the right data and the ability to turn it into actionable insights, we can start optimising voyages as the dynamic and complex processes that they really are – and unlock the GHG savings that our customers and planet demand.

 

Photo credit: © Kepler, © Mapbox, © OpenStreetMap
Published: 16 February, 2022

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Environment

Indonesia to expedite removal of sunken Malaysia-flagged tanker “Silver Sincere”

Vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 mt of waste oil on 12 January 2025; the wreck was discovered in March 2025 and was found to have drifted about 13 nautical miles from its original sinking site.

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July 20, 2026

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Indonesia to expedite removal of sunken Malaysia-flagged tanker “Silver Sincere”

Indonesia’s Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs on Tuesday (14 July) held a cross-agency coordination meeting to expedite efforts in handling the Malaysian-flagged tanker Silver Sincere that sank off Bintan Regency, Riau Islands.

The vessel sank while carrying about 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of waste oil on 12 January 2025. 

According to authorities, the ship sank within Indonesian waters. After several surveys, the wreck was finally discovered in March 2025 and it was found to have shifted approximately 13 nautical miles from the initial sinking location.

The meeting was aimed to align cross-ministerial and institutional measures to expedite the handling of the Silver Sincere wreck while minimising risks to shipping safety, the marine environment, and national interests.

Deputy for Coordination of State Defense and National Unity Purwito Hadi Wardhono emphasised that the handling of the impact of the Silver Sincere sinking was the first case to be comprehensively coordinated, serving as a model for handling foreign vessels sinking within Indonesian jurisdiction.

Through this cross-sectoral coordination, the government will establish a clear and measurable framework that can serve as a reference for resolving similar cases in the future, while minimising state losses due to environmental pollution, damage to underwater ecosystems and infrastructure, and disruption to shipping lanes.

“The most important thing is to immediately stop and prevent the negative impacts of this ship sinking,” Purwito said.

“Therefore, a coordinating role is crucial, as maritime security governance involves various ministries and institutions with varying authorities, allowing for faster, more integrated, and more effective response,” he said. 

He added that the Silver Sincere was a Malaysian-flagged vessel that sank within Indonesian jurisdiction, and therefore, all handling processes must comply with the provisions of Indonesian laws and regulations.

In the meeting, Prof. Eko Ganis Sukoharsono, representing the SAE Energy Consulting Team, presented the results of an analysis based on 14 observation periods using Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellite imagery. 

The analysis results showed strong indications of a waste oil spill that has resulted in marine pollution, damage to the seabed due to shifting shipwrecks, disruption of coastal ecosystems and fishing grounds, and potentially threatening the livelihoods of fishing communities around the Riau Islands. 

Purwito added these findings further emphasise the importance of accelerating the removal of the shipwrecks to prevent widespread environmental impacts, maintain shipping safety, and avoid the potential for greater state losses.

The meeting brought together representatives of related ministries and institutions including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Ministry of Environment, Attorney General’s Office.  

Related: MPA: Malaysia-registered tanker “Silver Sincere” sinks off Pedra Branca

 

Photo credit: MarineTraffic / Julian T
Published: 20 July, 2026

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Methanol

China launches methanol shipping supply chain alliance to accelerate green transition

Marine fuel suppliers in the alliance include Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales, China Marine Bunker (PetroChina), SIPG Energy (Shanghai), and Shenzhen Port Energy Development.
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July 17, 2026

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China Waterborne Transport Research Institute under the Ministry of Transport and China Transport News recently jointly launched a Methanol Fuel Shipping Supply Chain Innovation Alliance with 20 organisations spanning the shipping, port, energy, equipment, research and industry association sectors.

The alliance was officially announced during the main event of China Maritime Day 2026 on 11 July, where members also released a joint initiative to develop a collaborative methanol-fuelled shipping supply chain.

The alliance aims to implement China’s national strategy for green economic transformation and support the Ministry of Transport’s “One Network, Four Modernisations” initiative by building a safe, efficient, economical and reliable methanol marine fuel supply chain

Under the joint initiative, alliance members pledged to align with China’s national decarbonisation strategy by promoting methanol as a key pathway for the shipping sector’s green transition and optimising the industry’s energy mix.

The members also pledged to strengthen collaboration across the supply chain to improve coordination between bunker fuel production, transportation and end users while advancing technological innovation.

Lastly, the alliance will support the development of policies, planning and technical standards, promote resource sharing and joint research, and accelerate the large-scale adoption of methanol as a marine fuel.

The alliance brings together companies and organisations representing the entire methanol shipping supply chain.

Members include shipping and port members such as China Changjiang National Shipping (Group) Corporation, COSCO Shipping Bulk Co., Ltd., Shandong Port Group, and Wuhan Chuangxin Jianghai Shipping Co., Ltd.

Energy companies in the alliance include Sinopec Chemical Commercial Holding Company Limited and Methanex Corporation.

Marine fuel suppliers including Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales, China Marine Bunker (PetroChina), SIPG Energy (Shanghai) Co Ltd and Shenzhen Port Energy Development Co Ltd are also part of the alliance. 

Equipment manufacturers in the alliance are CSSC 711th Research Institute, CSSC Power (Group) Corporation Ltd and Chongqing Hongjiang Machinery Co Ltd.

Research, media and industry organisations participating in the alliance include the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute, China Transport News, and the Methanol Institute.

The Methanol Institute said methanol is moving beyond individual projects towards coordinated action across the entire value chain. 

“And China continues to play a leading role in advancing methanol as a marine fuel,” it said in a social media post.  

“We’re proud to work alongside our fellow alliance members to help strengthen the methanol supply chain and support the continued growth of methanol as a marine fuel.”

 

Photo credit: David Yu from Pixabay
Published: 17 July, 2026

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Wind-assisted

DNV awards TADC to Econowind for VentoFoil 3-Series

System actively harnesses wind power to generate forward thrust, helping to reduce bunker fuel consumption and mitigate FuelEU penalties.
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July 17, 2026

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DNV awards TADC to Econowind for VentoFoil 3-Series

Dutch wind-assisted propulsion technology firm Econowind on Wednesday (15 July) said it has received a Type Approval Design Certificate (TADC) from classification society DNV for its VentoFoil 3-Series boundary layer suction wing. 

The company said the certification confirms compliance with DNV’s ST-0511 standard for Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems and enables easier integration of VentoFoils on DNV-classed vessels worldwide. 

Econowind added that the approval accelerates the deployment of wind propulsion across the shipping industry.

“DNV is one of the world’s leading classification societies. This TADC gives DNV-classed shipowners confidence that VentoFoils meet the highest industry standards,” said Chiel de Leeuw, Chief Commercial Officer at Econowind. 

“It simplifies the approval process for both retrofits and newbuilds. VentoFoils are ideal for late-stage design integration and retrofit projects. This is an important milestone for Econowind and for the wider adoption of wind-assisted ship propulsion.”

The 3-Series VentoFoil is Econowind’s best-selling suction wing to date, with over 150 units sold. The system actively harnesses wind power to generate forward thrust, helping to reduce fuel consumption and mitigate FuelEU penalties. The system includes a tilting foundation, allowing the wings to be tilted down during port operations or in adverse weather conditions, making it a flexible solution.

The TADC applies to the 16-meter VentoFoil 3-Series product design and supports easy integration into DNV-classed vessels without repeating the full design assessment process. This enables shipowners, shipyards, and project teams to move more efficiently from concept to installation, reducing project complexity and accelerating deployment. 

Hasso Hoffmeister, Senior Principal Engineer at DNV Maritime, said: “It is a great pleasure to award Econowind this new certificate. WAPS have been going from strength to strength over the past few years, from 2022 the number of vessels in operation has increased five times, and we’ve now topped the century mark. 

“And with the current advances in technology, materials, and production capacity in the segment, we expect this to accelerate. So, while the wind always changes, the shipping industry is likely to be sailing strong for years to come.”

Econowind expects the DNV Type Approval Design Certificate to accelerate adoption of the VentoFoil, particularly among shipowners seeking proven, independently certified technology that can support fuel savings, emissions reductions, and decarbonization goals.

MS Heinz of HS Schiffahrt is among the first vessels to sail under this TADC.The company said the approval builds on Econowind’s growing installed base and further strengthens confidence in wind-assisted ship propulsion as a practical solution to address energy scarcity and high fuel prices. 

In addition to the 3-Series, Econowind offers the 5-Series for the deep-sea market.

 

Photo credit: Econowind
Published: 17 July, 2026

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