On October 23, 2026, ClassNK held a seminar titled ‘Latest Trends and Practical Operations of Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems’. This seminar was hosted by four major shipping companies including Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. (“K” LINE), Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), MOL Techno-Trade, Ltd. and Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK), with 160 participants from the shipping industry, shipbuilders, and marine equipment manufacturers attending.
Focus on Reducing Greenhouse Gases
In order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the shipping industry is moving towards the use of Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS). These systems utilize wind power to help reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. As the installation of these systems increases, attention to practical experiences and performance evaluations is growing day by day.
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Seminar Program and Presentations
During this seminar, following a presentation from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on carbon-neutral trends in the maritime sector, the program included discussions on international advancements in wind propulsion by the International Windship Association (IWSA) and experiences from shipping companies in the installation and operation of WAPS. Additionally, ClassNK introduced its activities related to WAPS and a panel discussion featuring five industry experts addressed the challenges, performance evaluation methods, and future prospects of WAPS.
ClassNK and the four supporting companies emphasized the continuation of collaboration in maritime decarbonization through knowledge sharing and technical validation to support the safe and effective adoption and operation of WAPS.
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