Odfjell is turning climate ambition into measurable action. With a focus on practical solutions and proven technologies, the company has steadily advanced its decarbonization goals through disciplined operations, energy efficiency, and scalable innovations. From biofuels to wind-assisted propulsion, Odfjell is showing how meaningful emissions reductions can be delivered today – not just promised for the future.
Bow Olympus in Houston, just about to embark on the demonstrator journey using sails and biofuel
Photo credit: Robert Land Production & Mihovil Photography
At SNIC 2025, Odfjell returns with Erik Hjortland, Vice President Technology. He will share a powerful case study that is drawing global attention including at the International Maritime Organization – the company’s landmark transatlantic voyage of the Bow Olympus, which is being hailed as a breakthrough in demonstrating what deep-sea shipping can achieve with existing, scalable technology.
A Real-World Test of Low-Emission Shipping
In early 2025, the Bow Olympus crossed the Atlantic using a combination of sustainable biofuel and four bound4blue suction sails, achieving:
- 85% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity compared to conventional fuel
- Fuel savings of up to 5 tons per day, thanks to wind-assisted propulsion
- Operational performance that met – and in some cases exceeded – upcoming EU and IMO targets
This wasn’t a lab test. It was a commercial voyage with cargo, logged and verified, showing that near-zero-emission deep-sea shipping is already possible using drop-in fuels and retrofit wind tech.
Odfjell’s “pragmatic pathway”, as recently presented at the IMO, highlights how meaningful emissions cuts can be achieved today through disciplined energy efficiency, retrofits, and tech combinations that work now. The voyage also demonstrated that such solutions can avoid carbon costs, maintain operational flexibility, and offer a clear return on investment.
“For shipping to decarbonize, we cannot afford to overcomplicate the matter. We need to identify the most cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and scalable solutions. Sustainable biofuels may prove to be exactly that. Our demonstrator voyage shows that meaningful progress toward net zero is possible with existing technology and infrastructure.” – Erik Hjortland, VP Technology, Odfjell
A Decade of Progress, a Data-Driven Future
The Bow Olympus case is just one point on a longer journey. Over the past decade, Odfjell has installed more than 140 energy-saving devices across its fleet and cut its carbon intensity by 54% vs. the IMO’s 2008 baseline. In Q2 2025, the company reported a new record low carbon intensity (AER) of 6.8.
Odfjell also introduced its Transition Finance Framework in 2024 — a tool that connects sustainable finance directly to proven, measurable outcomes. The framework ensures funding flows toward impactful decarbonization projects, not just future promises.
What SNIC 2025 Audiences Can Expect
As the maritime industry prepares for sweeping regulatory and fuel system changes, Odfjell’s story offers something refreshingly concrete: a proof-of-concept that scales.
SNIC 2025 attendees will get an inside look at what it takes to translate ambition into action – and how practical solutions like wind-assist, biofuels, and retrofit efficiency can be part of a real-world pathway to net zero.