“These systems enable real-time decision-making, improving fuel efficiency and reducing emissions, all while adapting to changing conditions at sea.”

Another key example is the use of advanced analytics and continuous monitoring of engine and equipment performance to identify potential faults early and maintain smooth ship operations.

Through Wärtsilä global expertise centres, the Expert Insight service applies predictive maintenance to schedule servicing before failures occur, reducing unexpected downtime and keeping maintenance costs under control.

Now instead of reacting to breakdowns, crews can anticipate and prevent them. Real-time monitoring detects issues before they become critical, allowing repairs to be scheduled in advance. “This not only reduces stress and workload but also keeps operations safer and less prone to emergency downtime,” Johan points out.

The second pathway is emissions abatement, the process of actively reducing, minimizing, or eliminating the release of harmful pollutants and GHG. Technologies like carbon capture are now commercially available, giving shipowners near-term solutions to comply with stricter environmental regulations.

Earlier this year, Wärtsilä introduced a carbon capture system that captures CO₂ directly from ship exhaust. It has already demonstrated the ability to cut vessel CO₂ emissions by up to 70 per cent, Johan shares.

The third pathway involves a complete switch to sustainable fuels, such as methanol and ammonia. These fuels are still under development, and infrastructure is limited, but dual-fuel engines — capable of running on both conventional marine oil and low-carbon alternatives — give operators fuel flexibility.

This flexibility lets operators choose fuels based on availability and cost, Johan explains.