Wärtsilä on Practical Shipping Decarbonisation: Onboard Carbon Capture, Gate Rudder Savings, and Data-Led Retrofits

At SMM 2026, Wärtsilä's Bernd Bertram discussed how shipowners are moving from vague net zero pledges to concrete, data-led decisions under CII and FuelEU Maritime. The company's Decarbonisation Services use modelling and operational data to identify which efficiency measures, retrofits, and fuel readiness steps make sense for each vessel, while Lifecycle Agreements are meant to keep performance tracking going after installation. Bertram highlighted two technologies. The onboard carbon capture system piloted on Solvang's Clipper Eris has shown up to 70% CO2 reduction, but storage and discharge logistics remain key constraints. The Gate Rudder, a twin rudder layout around the propeller, can cut fuel use by up to 20% depending on vessel type and operating profile. The interview also covers how Wärtsilä is trying to reduce seafarer data overload by focusing on actionable alerts rather than more dashboards.