Vindskip is a concept
designed, by Norwegian firm Lade AS, for harnessing wind energy to propel cargo
vessels. The designed ship, Vindskip,
uses a hull that acts as a sail.
According to its
manufacturer, Lade AS, the designed ship reduces fuel consumption up to 60%
while reducing greenhouse emission up to 80%.
It uses liquefied
natural gas-powered generator for the remainder of its energy and get it moving
from standstill.
Germany’s Fraunhofer
Center for Maritime Logistics and Services has developed its software. This
software will help choose best possible route in accordance with the wind
direction. Cruise Control will balance the LNG-electric
propulsion system with the Wind Power System - keeping a constant speed of the
ship.
The development in wind-powered
shipping is important as today 95 % of goods are carried through ships,
furthermore, according to the guardian, one giant container ship can emit as
much cancer and asthma causing chemicals as 50 million cars. Therefore, small
reduction in emission by shipping industry can have great impact on the global
greenhouse emission.
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| today 95 % of goods are carried through ships |
For reducing greenhouse
emission ships should be more fuel efficient, as reduced fuel consumption means
reduced greenhouse emission.
Along with using
renewable energy sources another way of reducing fuel consumption is slow
steaming.
Marine engine
manufacturer Wärtsilä estimates that fuel consumption can be reduced
by 59% by reducing cargo ship speed from 27 knots to 18 knots, at the cost of
an additional week's sailing time on Asia-Europe routes.
Fall in bunker prices
may prove to be barrier in opting for slow steaming and going for renewable
energy sources. Therefore UN's International
Maritime Organization and the EU should intervene to
tighten laws governing ship emissions and fuel efficiency.
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