Quick Answer: Wind Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS) are devices that harness wind energy to supplement a ship's main engine, reducing fuel consumption and emissions. Types include Flettner rotor sails, rigid wing sails, soft sails, suction sails, and kite sails. Fuel savings of 5–30% are achievable depending on technology, vessel type, and route wind conditions. The Pyxis Ocean completed a circumnavigation carrying grain on behalf of Cargill, fitted with two BAR Technologies WindWings, and...

Quick Answer: The IMO Net Zero Framework (NZF) is the regulatory package implementing the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy's net-zero-by-2050 target. Approved at MEPC 83 in April 2025, it mandates a declining GHG Fuel Intensity (GFI) standard for vessels over 5,000 GT on international voyages, backed by a two-tier remedial unit pricing mechanism. Formal adoption is targeted for MEPC 85 in October 2026, with the first reporting year anticipated as 2028. International shipping carries roughly 90% of world...

On 22 May 2026, the International Maritime Organization concluded the 111th session of its Maritime Safety Committee in London. One outcome stood apart from the rest: the formal adoption of the International Code of Safety for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships. The MASS Code takes effect on 1 July 2026. Worth stating early: this is not a framework for ships that do not yet exist. Degree 1 autonomous vessels, carrying full crews alongside automated decision-support systems, are already...