ORIGINAL PAPER
Strategies for enhancing the energy efficiency of ships within the framework of global decarbonization
 
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1
Faculty of Energy, Georgian Technical University, Georgia
 
2
Department of Business Administration, Georgian Technical University, Georgia
 
 
Submission date: 2025-09-30
 
 
Final revision date: 2025-12-04
 
 
Acceptance date: 2025-12-08
 
 
Publication date: 2026-06-30
 
 
Corresponding author
Ketevan Kutateladze   

Faculty of Energy, Georgian Technical University, Georgia
 
 
Polityka Energetyczna – Energy Policy Journal 2026;29(2):249-268
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
The relevance of improving energy efficiency in seagoing vessels is growing due to global decarbonization, stricter environmental standards, and increasing demands to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime sector. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of innovative strategies for improving ship energy efficiency, taking into account current decarbonization trends, as well as to evaluate their impact on the environmental and economic performance of maritime transport. A range of methods, including statistical analysis, empirical approaches, and experimental techniques, was used to study the impact of new technologies. A comparative analysis of three fuel types – diesel, biofuel Romashka-3, and LNG – focused on consumption, emissions, and voyage costs. The results show that biofuel reduces CO2 emissions by 19% and voyage costs by 6%. LNG provides the greatest emission reductions – CO2 by 20%, NOx by 49%, and SOx by 95% – though it increases voyage costs by 6%. Diesel, with the highest emissions and a cost of USD 33.7 thousand, is the most environmentally harmful. The findings suggest that the optimal strategy involves a gradual transition to alternative fuels and digital solutions to improve energy efficiency without major economic trade-offs. This research offers practical value by helping shipping companies, fleet operators, policymakers, and regulators improve energy efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and support fleet modernization and sustainable transport policies.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
METADATA IN OTHER LANGUAGES:
Polish
Strategie zwiększania efektywności energetycznej statków w kontekście globalnej dekarbonizacji
sektor morski, paliwa alternatywne, skroplony gaz ziemny, biopaliwa, silniki okrętowe
Znaczenie poprawy efektywności energetycznej statków morskich rośnie w związku z globalną dekarbonizacją, zaostrzającymi się normami środowiskowymi oraz rosnącymi wymaganiami dotyczącymi ograniczenia emisji gazów cieplarnianych w sektorze morskim. Celem niniejszego badania było przeprowadzenie kompleksowej analizy innowacyjnych strategii poprawy efektywności energetycznej statków z uwzględnieniem aktualnych trendów w zakresie dekarbonizacji, a także ocena ich wpływu na efektywność środowiskową i ekonomiczną transportu morskiego. W celu zbadania wpływu nowych technologii wykorzystano szereg metod, w tym analizę statystyczną, podejścia empiryczne i techniki eksperymentalne. Analiza porównawcza trzech rodzajów paliw – oleju napędowego, biopaliwa Romashka-3 i LNG – skupiała się na zużyciu, emisjach i kosztach rejsu. Wyniki pokazują, że biopaliwo zmniejsza emisję CO2 o 19% i koszty rejsu o 6%. LNG zapewnia największą redukcję emisji – CO2 o 20%, NOx o 49% i SOx o 95% – choć zwiększa koszty rejsu o 6%. Olej napędowy, charakteryzujący się najwyższą emisją i kosztem 33,7 tys. USD, jest najbardziej szkodliwy dla środowiska. Wyniki sugerują, że optymalna strategia polega na stopniowym przechodzeniu na paliwa alternatywne i rozwiązania cyfrowe w celu poprawy efektywności energetycznej bez większych kompromisów ekonomicznych. Badania te mają praktyczne znaczenie, ponieważ pomagają przedsiębiorstwom żeglugowym, operatorom flot, decydentom politycznym i organom regulacyjnym poprawić efektywność energetyczną, zmniejszyć wpływ na środowisko oraz wspierać modernizację flot i politykę zrównoważonego transportu.
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