Filed under: Emerging Technologies, Transportation Alternatives
Videos: Skysail debuts on world's first commercial merchant ship to use kite power
The Skysail, a giant kite used to help propel ships, has made its debut as you can see in the Reuters video above. MV Beluga Skysail is the world's first cargo ship to use the Skysail and the ship will make its maiden voyage in early 2008 from Germany to Venezuela. The Skysail is 400 feet long and the kite can rise 100 yards into the sky, controlled by a computer system. The system costs $725,600 but it pays for itself in a few years because it saves 20 percent in fuel (about $1,600 a day). Below the fold is another video of the Skysail in action.
Related:
- Kite sails could help lower ship emissions and fuel mileage
- Build a kite big enough for a ship, and you'll save fuel
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Arnie 2:29PM (12/18/2007)
Cool!
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why not the LS2LS7? 2:32PM (12/18/2007)
I know it's tempting to turn "100 meters" into "100 yards", but no one I've met uses yards for vertical measures, ever. Make it 300 feet. Or 330 feet if you want to be closer to accurate.
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GoodCheer 3:48PM (12/18/2007)
Or we could just stick with metric... I think most of the readers of this site are metric conversant.
And the vertical height was quoted at 15m for the mast, and (up to) 300m for the height of the kite.
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Domenick 6:57PM (12/18/2007)
"... I think most of the readers of this site are metric conversant."
What the hectare are you talking about? ^_^
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Wildgoosechase 1:39AM (12/19/2007)
I wonder if the day will come in which we see nuclear powered cargo ships?
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Guenther 9:16AM (12/19/2007)
5- I suppose its possible- if oil ever became too expensive. The main reason for Nuclear vessels is for strategic purposes- so you don't run out of "gas" in the middle of a conflict. There are a few Russian ice breakers in service- similar situation, where they could get frozen in for a very long time.
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Nucbuddy 4:59PM (12/19/2007)
Nuclear-powered non-military ships:
http://www.radiationworks.com/nuclearships.htm
Non-Military Nuclear Powered Ships
United States
NS Savannah
Nuclear powered cargo and passenger liner. One of only three nuclear powered cargo vessels ever built. Decomissioned in 1972.
Germany
NS Otto Hahn
Nuclear powered ore and passenger carrier. One of only three nuclear powered cargo vessels ever built. Converted to diesel power in 1982.
Japan
NS Mutsu
Nuclear powered research vessel. Suffered a radiation leak during maiden voyage.
Russia and former Soviet Union
Sevmorput
Container ship with reinforced hull for sailing through ice.
Length: 260 meters Displacement: 61,000 tons
Beam: 32 meters Draft: 10.68 meters
Service speed: 20 knots
Yamal
Artika-Class Icebreaker
Sovetsky Souz
Artika-Class Icebreaker
Rossia
Artika-Class Icebreaker
Lenin
Lenin-Class Icebreaker
Sibir
Artika-Class Icebreaker
Arktika
Artika-Class Icebreaker
Taymyr
Taymyr- Class Icebreaker
Vaygach
Taymyr- Class Icebreaker
Essays:
http://www.uic.com.au/nip32.htm
http://www.atomicengines.com/ships.html
http://www.atomicengines.com/Ship_paper.html
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