Wind propulsion should be formally recognized as a fuel pathway by the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) rather than treated merely as energy efficiency, argued Diane Gilpin, founder and CEO of Smart Green Shipping, as reported by Athens' Safety4Sea.

Ms. Gilpin stated that wind directly propels vessels and should be classified alongside fossil fuels and alternative energy sources when calculating the attained GFI. She added that the current designation as 'energy efficiency' misrepresents its role and undermines its adoption.

Smart Green Shipping's FastRig system has recently been validated under the ITTC (International Tonnage Certificate), providing shipowners and financiers with confidence in performance predictions. Ms. Gilpin noted that this 'finance-grade' accuracy de-risks uptake and enables new wind-as-a-service business models.

She highlighted that tankers and bulkers with available deck space are best suited for early adoption, while volatile fuel prices are driving wider interest. FastRigs can be installed and removed without the need for drydock, offering commercial flexibility.

Ms. Gilpin argued that shipping's challenge should be framed as sustainability rather than decarbonization, emphasizing resilience, fuel security, and energy independence. She called for a global IMO-led emissions reduction policy with stimulus mechanisms to accelerate renewable adoption, stating that wind propulsion is among the most cost-effective abatement solutions.