Wind association calls for broader decarb approach

The International Windship Association (IWSA) has called on policy makers to adopt an energy centric approach to decarbonisation if they want to deliver reduced shipping emissions.

Speaking at the Wind Propulsion Forum at One Ocean Summit, IWSA Secretary General, Gavin Allwright, said, ”Critically, we need to fully integrate the potential of wind-powered ships within International and European institutions, in order to further improve ocean protection and urgently deliver on decarbonisation pledges by adopting an ‘propulsion- or energy-centric approach rather than a narrow fuel-centric one.”

Dual approach

Mr Allwright said that this includes actively supporting the evolution of the IMO’s texts so that wind propulsion is considered in the same way as alternative fuels and is brought to the heart of the maritime transport decarbonisation pathway.

IWSA also wants to see a fleet of wind-propelled vessels deployed in island territories that are extremely vulnerable to climate change and that have to tacklethe challenges of availability and cost of alternative fuels.

This fleet could stand as a strong contributing factor in building resilience in the Pacific islands, but also the Caribbean territories.

”Your support nationally, regionally and internationally for the research, development and deployment of direct wind propulsion systems and vessels will be a clear, unequivocal message that urgent and deep reductions in shipping emissions are not just possible this decade, but affordable and hugely beneficial to the blue economy and ocean environment,” Mr Allwright said.

The three-day One Ocean summit ran from 9 to 11 February and was convened by the French President in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union with support from the United Nations.