The maritime industry’s transition towards smarter, safer and more sustainable shipping took centre stage during Maritime Week in Haugesund, where stakeholders from industry, research and policymaking gathered to discuss AI, maritime resilience, operational efficiency and decarbonisation.
For the AWESOME project, the event highlighted just how relevant wind-assisted propulsion and vessel optimisation have become across the maritime sector. Several contributions from industry representatives focused on topics closely aligned with the project’s objectives, including digitalisation, operational efficiency and Wind-Assisted Propulsion Systems (WAPS).
A clear takeaway from the day was the strong level of engagement around wind-assisted propulsion. Presentations on WAPS generated numerous questions and discussions from the audience, underlining the growing industry interest in solutions that can deliver immediate emission reductions while improving operational efficiency.
This growing momentum reflects the core ambitions of AWESOME. Through real-world demonstrations, performance monitoring and operational optimisation, the project aims to provide validated performance data and strengthen confidence in wind-assisted propulsion technologies. By bringing together leading shipowners, technology developers, research organisations and classification societies, AWESOME is helping accelerate the deployment of WAPS across the maritime sector.
The conference also demonstrated the important role of collaboration in delivering the maritime transition. Throughout the programme, speakers highlighted how innovation, digitalisation and operational improvements can support both competitiveness and decarbonisation goals.
For the AWESOME consortium, it was encouraging to see the attention given to wind-assisted propulsion and the strong interest from industry stakeholders. The discussions in Haugesund confirmed that WAPS is increasingly viewed as an important part of the solution for meeting future emission reduction targets while improving vessel efficiency.
As the project progresses, AWESOME will continue working to accelerate the adoption of wind-assisted propulsion through large-scale demonstrations, performance monitoring and operational optimisation, helping shipowners make informed decisions and reducing barriers to wider deployment.
