As the maritime industry intensifies its focus on emissions reduction, leading maritime technology provider, OneLink Performance, is urging shipowners and operators not to overlook the fundamentals of vessel optimisation, particularly fuel efficiency, in the rush to comply with new regulations such as the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) and FuelEU Maritime.

According to Pankaj Sharma, Managing Director at OneLink Performance, the current emissions debate, while crucial, risks overshadowing traditional performance management strategies that remain central to operational success.

“With all the attention on emissions, companies must not lose sight of vessel optimisation,” said Mr Sharma. “Fuel efficiency is a direct contributor to emissions and cost savings. Proactive vessel performance management is essential for both environmental compliance and financial viability.”

Mr Sharma cautions that shipowners who ignore fuel optimisation are exposing themselves to avoidable penalties and rising operational costs. “The real financial risk lies in fuel overconsumption. As compliance costs rise, inefficiencies will only increase exposure under new regulatory frameworks,” he said,

Despite modern ships being equipped with extensive onboard sensors, a significant gap remains between data collection and actionable insights. While legacy systems can detect excess fuel consumption, they often fall short in identifying the root cause, leaving operators guessing and potentially losing money.

In one recent case, a vessel showing signs of high fuel burn was initially suspected of suffering from hull fouling. However, EngineLink, OneLink’s AI-powered diagnostics solution, traced the issue to a pressure imbalance caused by worn piston rings. Early detection helped the shipowner avoid not just unnecessary fuel costs, but also potential compliance penalties.

“This isn’t just about maintenance anymore,” Mr Sharma stressed. “Fuel inefficiencies now have direct financial and regulatory consequences. “Every extra tonne of fuel burned translates into wasted money, inflated claims, and increased regulatory exposure.”

Too many operators remain reactive, waiting for fuel bills to rise before investigating. Sharma believes this approach is no longer sustainable. He anticipates a market shift in the coming year, with renewed attention on fuel performance and operational optimisation, not just for sustainability, but out of necessity.

“The industry is at a crossroads,” Mr Sharma said. “Those who treat fuel waste as unavoidable will face escalating costs and penalties. Those who take proactive steps using AI-driven diagnostics and real-time insights stand to make measurable gains, both operationally and financially.”

OneLink Performance offers real-time vessel performance monitoring and advanced diagnostics that help shipowners tackle overconsumption without the need for heavy CAPEX. With scalable solutions designed to integrate into existing workflows, OneLink enables smarter decisions that deliver immediate cost savings and compliance benefits.

Mr Sharma added: “We’re not just helping shipowners meet regulations, we’re helping them optimise performance in a way that’s measurable, affordable, and impactful. Because in this industry, those who fail to address overconsumption now will be the ones paying for it later.”