Rosemary Oluchi Paul-Okore1,2, Moses Adondua Abah3, Micheal Abimbola Oladosu3, Amalagha Nengimote Godwin4,5, Udom, Evans Joel 6, Fabinu Azeez Akinwumi7, Joshua Olasunkanmi8 and Ochuele Dominic Agida3
1Competence Centre for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (CC4E), Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany
2 Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering and Engineering Technology, Federal University of Technology Owerri, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
3ResearchHub Nexus Institute, Nigeria
4Department of Marine Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Niger Delta University, Delta State, Nigeria
5Business Management, Accounting and Finance, University of Chester, United Kingdom
6Department of Mechanical Engineering, Akwa Ibom State University, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
7Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State, Nigeria
8Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Osun State, Nigeria
Received: April 2, 2025/ Revised: May 14, 2025/Accepted: May 27, 2025
Corresponding Author: Moses Adondua Abah; m.abah@fuwukari.edu.ng
Abstract
The maritime transport sector remains a cornerstone of global trade while contributing substantially to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fuel consumption. As regulatory ambition intensifies under the framework of the International Maritime Organization, energy efficiency has emerged as the most immediate, scalable, and cost-effective pathway toward near-term decarbonization. This review presents a structured and systems-oriented synthesis of energy efficiency measures spanning ship design, propulsion technologies, onboard energy management, operational strategies, and digital performance optimization. Design-phase interventions are examined through advances in hull-form optimization, hydrodynamic drag reduction, structural lightweighting, propeller–hull interaction enhancement, and high-efficiency propulsion architectures. The review further evaluates hybridization pathways, alternative fuel readiness, wind-assisted propulsion, and battery integration as transitional solutions that complement efficiency gains. At the operational level, measures including speed optimization, weather routing, trim and ballast management, predictive maintenance, and just-in-time port arrival are assessed for their measurable impact on fuel intensity and carbon performance. The enabling role of digitalization encompassing real-time monitoring, data analytics, and digital twins is critically analyzed as a mechanism for continuous improvement and regulatory compliance under instruments such as EEDI, EEXI, and CII. By integrating technical, operational, and data-driven dimensions, this review highlights synergistic strategies capable of delivering substantial lifecycle energy savings. It argues that sustained maritime decarbonization requires a holistic systems approach in which design excellence, operational discipline, and digital intelligence function as mutually reinforcing components of energy performance optimization.
Keywords: Energy, Efficiency, Ship, Design, and Operation
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How to cite this article
Paul-Okore, R. O., Adondua Abah, M., Abimbola Oladosu, M., Nengimote Godwin, M., Evans Joel, U., Azeez Akinwumi, F., Olasunkanmi, J., & Dominic Agida, O. (2026). Energy efficiency measures in ship design and operation. Chemical and Environmental Science Archives, 6(2), 12–22. https://doi.org/10.47587/CESA.2026.6201
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