by Przemysław Myszka

"The best fuel is the one not used," is a phrase heard often enough during discussions about shipping's decarbonisation.

It is perhaps up to investments in energy efficiency to push the needle. After all, the vote on the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Net-Zero Framework ended in a debacle last year - with the main instigator doubtlessly more concerned with abducting or assassinating its political rivals abroad than doing something remotely green(ish), not to mention other items on the Big Beautiful Agenda. Truly low-/zero-carbon marine fuels propelling the sector's transition? A trickle at best.

The World Bank Group did all the math in its latest report on the topic: in short, the numbers (for the most part) add up - you save on bunker by shelling out on energy-efficiency measures (EEM).

Notwithstanding, almost the entire global shipping industry is merrily sailing on fossil fuels, with but a few shipowners that do it more efficiently.

How come?

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