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    Energy efficiency in shipping: 4 smart moves to make now – and later
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    Energy efficiency in shipping: 4 smart moves to make now – and later

    This practical guide helps you identify what you can do to improve the efficiency of a vessel or fleet – and how to identify when to take those actions.

    4 November 2026 · 4 pages

    Energy efficiency in shipping: 4 smart moves to make now – and later

    Improving vessel energy efficiency can lower fuel consumption, but choosing the right action can be as important as choosing the right technology. This practical guide helps you identify what you can do now, what is better timed for maintenance or dry dock, and which decisions belong at the newbuild stage.

    Which energy-efficiency improvements should I make to my vessel, and when? 

    Prioritise improvements according to the vessel’s current performance, operating profile and next major lifecycle milestone. Some efficiency improvements can start reducing fuel consumption without taking the vessel out of operation, while maintenance stops and dry docks create opportunities for targeted or larger upgrades. 

    Knowing what to do now and what to plan for later can help you avoid missed opportunities and make better-informed investment decisions.

    • See which vessel energy-efficiency actions can be taken now without waiting for planned downtime.
    • Identify opportunities to recover performance and improve efficiency during your next maintenance stop.
    • Understand which larger efficiency upgrades may be better timed for your next dry dock.
    • Consider the energy-efficiency choices that can deliver long-term value when made early in a newbuild project.
    • Learn how Wärtsilä can help you combine and sequence efficiency measures around your vessel’s needs and investment plans. 

    cover of the Wärtsilä Energy efficiency in shipping guide

    Want to explore your options in more detail? Visit the vessel energy-efficiency page to see what you can do during operation, maintenance, dry dock and newbuild planning, and find relevant Wärtsilä solutions for each situation. 

    Frequently asked questions

    How can I improve my vessel’s energy efficiency without taking it out of operation?

    Start with actions that do not require significant physical changes to the vessel. Voyage and weather routing, fleet and energy management, engine tuning, propulsion control, performance monitoring and operational best practices can all help improve efficiency while a vessel remains in operation. The resulting performance data can also help identify where larger improvements may deliver value later.

    When is the best time to invest in energy-efficiency upgrades for a ship?

    There is no single best time for every improvement. Some measures can be implemented during normal operation, while planned maintenance provides opportunities to recover lost performance and make targeted improvements. A dry dock can be the practical time for larger propulsion or vessel-efficiency upgrades, while newbuild design offers the greatest opportunity to optimise efficiency and flexibility from the start.

    How should ship owners prioritise energy-efficiency investments?

    Ship owners should prioritise energy-efficiency investments using five factors: 

    1. Current vessel performance and the size of the efficiency gap
    2. Operating profile and expected future use
    3. Remaining service life
    4. Upcoming maintenance and dry-dock schedules
    5. The investment’s value under different future operating or fuel scenarios

    Measures that fit planned work may be less disruptive and more practical to implement. Combining complementary measures can also deliver greater efficiency gains than assessing each improvement in isolation.

    Can Wärtsilä help identify the right energy-efficiency improvements for my vessel?

    Yes. Wärtsilä can help ship owners look across individual technologies and upgrades to develop a more holistic efficiency plan based on the vessel’s current needs, upcoming maintenance and dry-dock schedules, and longer-term goals. This can include identifying what makes sense to do now, what can be planned for later and where combining efficiency measures could increase their overall impact. 

    Turn your next vessel milestone into an energy-efficiency opportunity 

    Download the guide to consider what you can do now and what may be better planned for maintenance, dry dock or a newbuild.

    This page was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by Wärtsilä Marine energy-efficiency specialists. 

    © 2026 Wärtsilä