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Shippers: Go fly a kite!
Ok, whether this is a truly viable alternative to conventional propulsion for ocean-based freight is, well, debatable, but this article is still worth a look. This unusual freighter uses a sail. That's right, an honest-to-goodness, wind-driven sail as a primary form of propulsion(Ok, they call it a "kite," but it's the same principle.) With a big blue canopy the size of a football field, this thing gives the phrase, "Nice day for a sail!" a whole new meaning, but the Beluga Shipping Company, based in Germany, is taking it seriously. On a good day, the sail can apparently cut fuel consumption up to 50 percent, and may cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.
Of course, manufacturers of good old-fashioned fuel burning engines needn't worry yet. The unpredictability of the weather will surely prevent any level-headed supply chain manager from putting the fate of a multimillion-dollar shipping contract into the hands of a sailboat, and even the abovementioned freighter has backup engines for those calmer-than-usual days. Still, it's an interesting idea, and an indication that companies are still looking for creative ways to reduce the carbon footprint.
Shippers: Go fly a kite!
November 27, 2007
Ok, whether this is a truly viable alternative to conventional propulsion for ocean-based freight is, well, debatable, but this article is still worth a look. This unusual freighter uses a sail. That's right, an honest-to-goodness, wind-driven sail as a primary form of propulsion(Ok, they call it a "kite," but it's the same principle.) With a big blue canopy the size of a football field, this thing gives the phrase, "Nice day for a sail!" a whole new meaning, but the Beluga Shipping Company, based in Germany, is taking it seriously. On a good day, the sail can apparently cut fuel consumption up to 50 percent, and may cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.Of course, manufacturers of good old-fashioned fuel burning engines needn't worry yet. The unpredictability of the weather will surely prevent any level-headed supply chain manager from putting the fate of a multimillion-dollar shipping contract into the hands of a sailboat, and even the abovementioned freighter has backup engines for those calmer-than-usual days. Still, it's an interesting idea, and an indication that companies are still looking for creative ways to reduce the carbon footprint.
Posted by Sean Murphy on November 27, 2007 | Comments (0)
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