The shipping industry’s push for sustainability was a central theme at this year’s Propulsion and Future Fuels, where experts emphasised retrofitting as a vital strategy. 

Representatives from Hapag-Lloyd and Accelleron discussed innovations and challenges in making fleets more environmentally friendly while maintaining operational efficiency.

Wolfram Guntermann, director of regulatory affairs at Hapag-Lloyd, shared insights from the company’s extensive fleet decarbonisation strategy. With over 41 years of experience, Guntermann highlighted initiatives like upgrading propellers and hull modifications to improve hydrodynamics. “Replacing propellers is a key step in our fleet upgrade program,” he noted, explaining that these changes can reduce fuel consumption by 5-8%, a crucial improvement as vessels operate at slower speeds.