From Oil Crisis to Renewable Innovations: Transforming Maritime Policy and Marine Conservation

Marine transportation remains essential to global trade and coastal economies, yet its continued dependence on fossil-fuel propulsion contributes to marine pollution, greenhouse gas emissions, underwater noise, and broader ecological degradation. This research examines how engineering innovation and maritime governance can work together to support a transition toward sustainable marine transportation. First, the environmental effects of conventional two-stroke, four-stroke, and small marine diesel engines are evaluated through their combustion efficiency, pollutant output, and impacts on marine ecosystems. The study then develops its main innovation: a conceptual self-recharging hybrid propulsion system for small coastal vessels that combines photovoltaic energy with retractable hydrokinetic turbines, battery storage, and electric propulsion. Engineering calculations are used to assess energy generation, conversion efficiency, operational models, and the feasibility of the system for an 8-meter artisanal fishing vessel. The research further examines how maritime trade, international regulation, and geopolitical events, particularly the 1973 oil crisis, have shaped global dependence on petroleum and influenced energy policy. Finally, six proposed legal instruments connect renewable propulsion with regulatory compliance, economic incentives, emission transparency, and marine conservation. The findings suggest that reducing the environmental effects of maritime transportation requires more than technological advancement alone. Combining renewable propulsion with effective and accessible regulatory frameworks provides a potential pathway toward cleaner marine ecosystems, greater energy independence, and a more sustainable maritime sector.