# Ship propulsion: Overview

The engines, sails and reactors that move world trade

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/overview/

What this tile covers Marine diesel and LNG engines, wind-assisted ships and nuclear vessels. Share of use 2.7% share of final energy use (2019)

Share of world total final energy consumption (about 435 EJ, calculated: motor systems 13,462 TWh are 53% of electricity, so about 25,400 TWh or 91 EJ, and electricity is about 21% of final energy) that passes through this device or is used by this sector, latest year available. Electricity-based devices use electricity's 21% share of final energy (IEA WEO 2025). Overlaps between devices and sectors are allowed and noted. Navigation (domestic and international bunkers) used 6.7% of final oil, and oil was 40.4% of final energy in 2019, about 2.7% (calculated). Overlaps engines. Source: [Key World Energy Statistics 2021](https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/52f66a88-0b63-4ad2-94a5-29d36e864b82/KeyWorldEnergyStatistics2021.pdf), International Energy Agency.

#### Key facts

| **Chain** | Chemical (fuel oil or LNG) → heat → mechanical → propeller → kinetic |
|---|---|

#### Included from the reference tables

- Diesel and LNG ships
- Sailing and rotor-sail ships
- Nuclear submarines and carriers

#### Also in Transport systems
[ICV Combustion road vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_road_ice/)[EV Electric and hybrid vehicles](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_evs/)[Rail Rail traction](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rail_traction/)[Jet Aviation propulsion](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_aviation/)[Rkt Rockets and human power](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_rockets/)

Explore paths from here
 More on this tile in the tabs above: science and limits, value chain, unit economics, engineering methods, equipment and suppliers.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/correlation/index.md)
- [Science and limits](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/science/index.md)
- [Value chain](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/valuechain/index.md)
- [Unit economics](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/economics/index.md)
- [Engineering methods](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/methods/index.md)
- [Equipment and suppliers](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/equipment/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/e_marine/links/index.md)