The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has taken a major step toward mainstreaming wind-assisted propulsion by approving a formal workplan aimed at delivering interim international safety guidelines by 2029. The decision follows the 12th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 12), held in London in January, and is intended to address long-standing regulatory gaps that have slowed adoption of wind propulsion technologies. Industry leaders say the absence of standardized safety guidance has forced wind-assisted systems to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, creating uncertainty for shipowners, insurers, and classification societies. Under the proposed timeline, the workplan will be submitted to the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee for endorsement in 2026, with interim guidelines finalized in 2029 and formally adopted later that year. The effort is part of a broader IMO safety initiative covering multiple greenhouse gas–reducing technologies, including nuclear propulsion and lithium-ion batteries, as shipping faces mounting pressure to meet the IMO’s 2050 net-zero emissions targets. Proponents argue that clear regulation is now essential to scale wind-assisted propulsion from niche use into a widely deployed, zero-emission-ready solution across the global fleet.